Relative performance in steels and you...

Kaizen1

Kaizen1

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If the current premium steels (S90V, S110V, M4, INFI, ZDP-189, etc) became the new AUS-4 relative to the new "premium" steels and those new premium steels were now ubiquitous in "affordable" knives, how do you think that would affect your view of the old premium steels?
 
It's already that way with me. I won't even bother with normal D2 and 440C knives anymore ( custom D2 like doziers not included in that).

I can recall when they were considered pretty special.

I really have more than I need so to buy a knife it has to bring a minimum level of quality and performance before I's consider it. I typically won't bother with anything less than the ATS34/154cm/VG10/S30V "premium" stainless steels. I prefer ZDP/S90V/S110V etc.

With carbon steels I have my favorites but recognize that I just get along with carbon/alloy steels, and better yet, high speed steels. Joe
 
Well I wouldnt buy them anymore.

Wouldnt make me hate the knives I already own though.

PS I carry aus-8.
 
Imho there will not be a huge difference between current steels and those steels to come performancewise. I guess it will basically be a matter of advertising new steels and setting new trends.
 
They would still have their place. I still use Victorinox to this day despite their relatively soft steel. It does mean I need to buy some new steel. :D
 
I doubt "knifenuts" would keep using "lowend" knife steels. They'll use the newer ones, it's just the way we are.

Think about it, 440C & D2 is fine for most people, but we keep wanting better, newer steels. It's just in our nature.

However, if that becomes the case, that probably means I'll probably be having them in slippies!
 
As long as it has an edge on it, I'll buy it and use it.

I just like knives!

Some of my favorite knives are made of out 56 RC Victorinox stainless, or simple old unalloyed tool steel.
 
It depends on what benefits the new steels offer, but as a blade geek I'm pretty sure I'd go with whatever is new and fancy.
 
Even tough I'm a young guy I've owned a gazillion knives and I'm old school as far as steels go and still like the "old" steels. 154CM is still just fantastic with me.

In fact, I'm less inclined to go crazy about the "new" steels because I've spent SO MUCH TIME sharpening and stropping the old steels that I feel a little out of my element (he-he) with the new steels since I'm soooo familiar with how the older steels perform and behave with sharpening abrasives and while stropping.

I wouldn't turn down a knife in the "new" steels, but I'd be happy as a pig in mud picking up those "old steel" knives on the forums and ebay that nobody would want anymore.:D

.
 
I still like and use Case's CV, 1095, A2, and 52100, so I guess I won't really mind when "new & hot" becomes "old and cold".
 
Funny how some of you put 440C and D2 in the same category (yeah, I guess you probably know better - maybe ;) ) just the same - a quality steel is a quality steel. After a while... a well taken care of "older" knife isn't just a knife... it's more like your friend. Just my $.02

Rob
 
Not that long ago 440C was considered very good blade steel. ATS-34 & 154CM, IIRC, were considered premium steels, but now look at them. While they're good & suitable for probably most of all of our needs, lets face it, most of us want the newest, latest, greatest, even if we really don't need it.

All that aside, if for whatever reason, I couldn't have/use newer steels, than I'd be happy with (& my needs met) 440C, D2, ATS-34, 154CM, etc.
 
Good steel is good steel no matter what's new and popular.

I love my s30v and VG-10, but I see nothing wrong with 440C.

My favorite steel is probably 1095 though, and it's not exactly new and exciting.
 
I think one thing to keep in mind about some of these newer "super stainless" type steels is that they are built around improved compromises - but still compromises.

For example, compare S30V to 01 for use in a small-ish EDC-ish fixed blade. If a guy is willing to give up some corrosion resistance, the 01 pretty much blows S30V off the map in keenness and edge retention, and also ease of sharpening. This isn't the most complete example. My point is just that there are already steels out there... have been out there forever... that do one or two things really well. So if you have a more focused set of needs (or maybe know how to take care of a knife... or maybe the importance of proper heat treat) it could be quite a while before the new-wave steel even catches up with the old-wave steel for your purposes, let alone surpasses it.

And I still think well-treated D2 is pretty damn good steel.
 
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