Pick your favorite steel for a custom build

First thing I'd do is speak with the maker.
Let him know your cutting needs and let him suggest the steel.
Like most others, I love M390! Not that bad to sharpen if you don't let it get stupid dull. I prefer touch ups at the end of the day.
I also love s35vn and XHP. Non stainless.....Cruwear.
Good luck!!
Speak with the maker brother!!
Joe
 
As a couple posts stated ... my first choice would be to narrow down to a short list of makers and then talk to them about what you want in the knife and in performance.

And they will let you know what they prefer how they heat treat and alot of my steel choice would be based on those things.

So many good choices nowdays there is no one or two simple answers.

I love M390 in a couple blades I have and prefer AEB-L or 52100 in others ... and I'm still a fan of CPM154 for an EDC.

But I would definately find and talk to your maker of choice and trust in their opinions ... some have mastered certain steels that make it seem like a laser.
 
I'll tell ya JJ, I have a couple Guardian Tacticals and a couple Hogues in CPM154. I agree with you, it's a great EDC steel.
I find it very easy to keep screaming sharp and it performs very well for me.
Joe

JJ_Colt45 said:
As a couple posts stated ... my first choice would be to narrow down to a short list of makers and then talk to them about what you want in the knife and in performance.

And they will let you know what they prefer how they heat treat and alot of my steel choice would be based on those things.

So many good choices nowdays there is no one or two simple answers.

I love M390 in a couple blades I have and prefer AEB-L or 52100 in others ... and I'm still a fan of CPM154 for an EDC.

But I would definately find and talk to your maker of choice and trust in their opinions ... some have mastered certain steels that make it seem like a laser.
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My favorites are not listed & not really familiar with any that are except M390.
Properly heat treated & with good edge geometry 440C holds up well unless you abuse it. Fairly easy to maintain also. My choice for EDC pocket knife.
Most of my knife use for the last few years has been in the kitchen. I like what Kasumi does with VG10.
If I had a custom pocket knife built I'd go with M390 a kicthen knife I'd like to try AEB-L
 
I'd recommend whatever the maker feels is best for the knife, and what he has the most experience with. I've found over the years that while it's fun to specify a steel when comissioning a custom, it's best to let the maker decide.

That said, of your list, I'd go M390, based on research. I have no knives in this steel, but from what I read M390 is hot stuff

Not helpful, but on topic; I've found that O-1 by a quality maker is my favorite steel.
 
I'd pick Z-Finit. 20cv would be my 2nd pick and xhp my 3rd.

Who's doing the heat treatment?
 
I agree Joe it is pretty easy to maintain and for me takes a great edge. Maybe doesn't hold it as long as some other steels ... but for my EDC they usually get used and touched up often so never found out how long it would hold if I just let it go.
 
Yup. I just do a little freshening up of the edge at the end of the day. I don't like letting edges get very dull.
It comes back very nicely and easily.
Joe

JJ_Colt45 said:
I agree Joe it is pretty easy to maintain and for me takes a great edge. Maybe doesn't hold it as long as some other steels ... but for my EDC they usually get used and touched up often so never found out how long it would hold if I just let it go.
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I understand the reason you ask the question. Please remember that any answer you get will be subjective, and that today's "preferred" steel will be tomorrow's commonplace steel.
 
ATJ999 said:
For smaller knives, M390/20CV(same thing, or so close they are EDC indistinguishable) is very hard to beat!!
If I could only choose 2 steels to have/use for the rest of my life, it would be 20CV/M390 for smaller blades and CPM 3V for larger blades.

Heat treatment specs 60-61 HRC for an all around EDC folder.
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I am with this guy...
 
Jim Jones: I see that you are new member with only 7 posts. Unless you already have quite a bit of experience with folders, I would suggest you hold off on the custom until you get some production samples under your belt.
The Spyderco Slysz Bowie is about $300, but will last you forever...CTS-XHP and 3.5" blade. It is OUTSTANDING.
I've had many folders; had two Slysz Bowies, and they are so hard to beat.
Obviously, there are hundreds of lesser options...if you "search" and read all the many "EDC suggestions" threads on this forum.
Good luck to you, and welcome to a fine club.
don
 
It would be difficult to choose a steel without knowing what the knife will be used for and whether you can properly maintain it.

As some suggested, it would therefore be better to tell the maker your need and capability, and let the maker to recommend. Also, there may be steels, which the maker has confidence in using.

Good luck.
 
S35VN or 20CV would be my choices on the list. My favorite steel to date has been CTS 204P but it is very hard to come by lately. The other 2 are very close though so I personally would not lose sleep over not getting my favorite.
 
Definitely M390 or 20cv for kitchen knives they both will take a great edge and hold it forever I know from experience I currently own both steels
 
I echo this, probably the safest bet. Is there a price differential mate? What steels is the maker most skilled in?

I will say that I really like how screaming sharp AEL-B gets and would consider it if it was substantially cheaper.

I also had a strider in B75P and it really impressed me. I think it is a powdered BG42?

Somewhat surprised not to see CPM154!! That is the one I ask for most often than not in a custom folder!

Wowbagger said:
would all be in my wheel house . . . love these (no diff between M390 and 20CV; I don't have any 20CV)

Heat treat more important than the steel for the most part and edge geometry may be even more important than heat treat (as long as it is in the ball park).
e.g., of my two Benchmades in M390, one a 710 and one a Ritter Griptillan, the Grip is very noticeably superior because the behind the edge is much thinner (holds that edge longer too partly due to geometry).

Heat treat spec ?
For me the harder the better but . . .
don't cut wire ties.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the opinions guys. Yes I am a new member and have few posts I mostly just like to lurk on here read and learn more than post.

As far as sharpening is concerned I can get a really nice razor edge on VG 10 and HAP 40 with my edge pro. I also have no problem getting a nice mirror polished edge on S 30v but it just doesn’t seem as sharp as the Japanese steels. I recently sharpened a Manix 2 in S90v and that thing took me several hours to get a mirror polished razor edge but it didn’t seem to stay shaving sharp very long.

I like the suggestions on talking to the maker and seeing what he has the most experience with and what he recommends. I’m still on the waiting list so when my time comes I will do exactly that.

As far as I understand all the above mentioned steels are the same price but I could be wrong about this. Damasteel is also an option that I am seriously considering but it costs $250 more. I just kind of wanted to get everybody’s opinion on regular steels first to try to narrow down to one regular steel V.S. Damasteel. I love the looks of Damasteel but I’m not sure that it would go with the overall theme of the knife. I’m not sure who the maker uses to do the heat treat.

As far as intended usage goes it’s just basic EDC stuff opening letters and packages and whatever needs cutting through the day.

Ill post a couple of picks of some nice VG10 edges that I have done on my Edge Pro.


20170601_031323_zpsrrnlslvx.jpg

20170601_031341_zpsanot7rkk.jpg


20170601_092542_zpsoza3g9pv.jpg
 
I like VG10 but it is a much easier to sharpen steel then the likes of M390 ... but sounds like you feel confident in sharpening ... you have sharpened S90V so that shouldn't hinder your choice any.

One thing I noticed you mentioning that you put a mirror polish on a knife but it didn't seem to stay as sharp long ... most steels perform better with a slightly toothy edge much better then with a mirror polish ... the mirror polish is good for razors or push cutting but not as good for an EDC knives ... I think you'll find whatever steel you end up chosing ... if you will sharpen it to a lower grit you will get better performance for most cutting chores and it will hold a good working edge much longer then one taken to a mirror polish.

Some of the professional sharpeners on here could probably give you better ideas on how high of progression they find best for different steels then I can ... but it's something to consider.
 
Can't go wrong with M390
Make sure that the maker is comfortable working with M390 though
 
If this is gonna be a daily user, XHP would be my choice. It's a wonderful all around experience... There's a reason it's mentioned in most of the reply posts.

It seems like M390 has become the default "best steel" on the internet, but my own experience leans toward XHP. I only have experience with half the steels on your list however.
 
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