Randall knives 0-1 is the best forged steel??

[A druid]

What is your opinion on forged steel stainless or not. His 01 truly the best option to this day. Is it not possible to forge a truly modern super seal like M4 as a stainless super seal. I am obviously extremely ignorant on this topic. Any insight possible would be greatly appreciated. Randall also uses 440 C. as they're as their stain resistant option. From what I can read this deal is not. As highly touted as as thorough o-1. I have an 01 version coming in 2010. And have become somewhat interested if not obsessed. With any information I can find. All that I know about no one so far is that it is fairly easy to heat treat which makes the popular. But a company like Randall should deal to keep treat properly any steel stainless or not that fits their manufacturing protocols. So is there a better no holds barred forged steel out there.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Every maker will have their own favorite steel. There is no best.

01 is a fine knife steel, but one must know how to forge and heat treat it.

My favorite is W2.

 

[silver_pilate]

Some makers, from what I've read, consider O-1 to be more difficult to forge than other popular forging steels. And heat treating isn't really any easier than any other steels. In fact it's a good bit more difficult than some. Most makers who can properly heat treat O-1 have the capability to heat treat any other steel as well.

O-1, as a tool steel designed to cut other metals, has excellent properties for a knife. It is in no way stain resistant, and it will take a patina with use and rust without care.

As Don said, maker's have their favorites, but there is not a "best" knife steel out there.

--nathan