Pick a Metal.

D

Dude Crush

Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
30
Hi All,
Okay, I’m new to this so please humor me. For an every day carry, general purpose, all around, maybe wet, maybe salt water, I don’t know that’s the point. All else being equal, which metal would you choose and why?
D2, 440C, H2, cobalt alloy, S30V…others I might have missed?
 
I'm a fan of VG-10 because of it's excellent edge retention and ease of re-sharpening. For larger pieces, I like Swedish powdered steel.
I'm also a big fan of the CPMs. I think that anything from crucible is great.
-KC
 
I would go with AUS-8A but that depends on who makes that steel. Some of the AUS-8A I've had in the past has been really crappy or it wasn't really AUS-8A but just marketed as it. To play it safe, I like 154CM right at 57-59 on the Rc scale. I only have two blades in S30V right now so in the near future after some more use, I might just change my mind. :)
 
Since you mentioned it may encounter water i'd go with a pacific salt or salt 1 model from spyderco. the H1 steel used in both knives is impervious to corrosion and holds an edge equal (in my experience better than) AUS6. i pretty much work in and around water every day and got sick of having to worry about my knives rusting so i went with the pacific salt and haven't needed anything else for work since. the knife is an excellent work-EDC for me; solid, sharp and cheap enough that if i lose it i can buy another one without having to save up forever.

if you want a good balance of corrosion resistance and edge-holding i'd recommend 440C. You have a lot of good options with this steel and it works well. 440C sharpens very well and it can handle being dunked in water and wiped off on your pants without corroding before the day is done and you get a chance to oil it. i carry a mini-griptilian in 440C on my few off-days a month and love it.

i actually just received my first knife with S30V today so i can't really comment on it but the factory edge on the knife is the sharpest i've ever seen.
 
Kryosphinx said:
Whats the difference between the 440 A's B's and C's?
Click to expand...

The difference is carbon content. A having the least and C the most. More carbon means that a blade can be heat treated to a higher hardness which will allow for better edge retention.
 
I would recommend finding a knife that you really like and getting it despite the blade-steel.

The reason I say this:
If you decide to buy a knife with a specific blade-steel, you're gonna limit your choices alot.

Let's say you decide to go with H-1 for salt water protection.
The truth is, there are not alot of knives with H-1 so you don't have many choices.
I think Spyderco is the only one who offers H-1 in a folder (I could be wrong, but I'm sure that there are not many H-1 folders being produced).

And if you choose D-2 you will have the same problem as with the H-1.

And if you choose 154CM you will eliminate nearly every Spyderco knife.

Now I'm not saying that blade-steel does'nt matter, but the design of the knife matters more.

BTW, here is MY list of quality well performing blade-steels:

AUS-8
ATS-55
ATS-34
154CM
VG-10
440C

I don't think you could go wrong with any of these steels.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
I think that in actual use it´s likely you wouldn´t be able to tell the difference between most modern steels, also there is no such thing as "all else being equal". I can say "I wish my Schrade stockman was made of 440C instead of 440A", but it´s not and it has served me well as EDC since 1976 so it is not that important and if it was 440C it would have cost more.

I wont choose a metal, I´ll choose a knife, I like my Spyderco in VG10, I like my Gerber in AUS8, I like my Boker in 440C, I like my Buck in 425M, I like my Schrades in 420HC, I like my SOG in AUS6, I like my Opinels in whatever it is they use, etc.
 
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