So, Just How Good Does a Knife Have to Be and What Is Attainable?

VorpelSword said:
And my question is: Is there any induction that a better performing, balanced steel is possible using any proportion of the known elements in the periodic table . . .at any price?
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Sure - there are folks out there, much like Larrin, working on formulations right now. As mentioned above, Magneticut 😉is close to the curve that steel makers have achieved using current alloys and technology, but those things are likely to advance over time even if we can’t predict in exactly what directions. Maybe in a few years someone will make a “super forge” that can “super compress” steel, or maybe Magicut will be the “best balanced” (for a folder 😅)
for the next 50 years…
 
scdub said:
Sure - there are folks out there, much like Larrin, working on formulations right now. As mentioned above, Magneticut 😉is close to the curve that steel makers have achieved using current alloys and technology, but those things are likely to advance over time even if we can’t predict in exactly what directions. Maybe in a few years someone will make a “super forge” that can “super compress” steel, or maybe Magicut will be the “best balanced” (for a folder 😅)
for the next 50 years…
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We shouldn’t assume continuous progress. Some of the crucible steel from the 19th century was reportedly excellent knife steel. The process was change to produce the volume of supply needed by railroads and construction.

N2s
 
I’d totally assume continuous progress 🤷‍♂️
 
Sticky said:
I think at a certain point a knife is only a knife and perfect OCD finish, exotic materials, fancy damascus patterns, Blinged hardware , even having the latest greatest wonder steel don't make it better in any real way that matters to a working tool. IME for example, a $40 Cold Steel Airlite is about as good a edc as any regardless of price, at least in my little collection.
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Interesting to see this. I recently have come to realize that the CS Airlite is one of the best value knives on the market, in my experience. This knife could serve well as ones only knife, for work as well as edc.
 
knarfeng said:
For many decades I carried old school traditional slip joints with 440A of indifferent heat treat. They did everything I needed them to do as a truck driver, construction worker, development engineer, bench chemist, et. al. That experience colors my perception of what is actually required for a knife to be acceptable,
So these days,
1)
>Decent blade steel. Buck 420HC qualifies. 3CrMoV does not. Case Tru-Sharp is a maybe if there are other redeeming features. I prefer stainless.
>Needs good blade geometry and I'm not real interested in having to reprofile, though I don't mind sharpening.
>I normally avoid tantos
>If it has a lock, then I want it to be secure. And I differentiate between "secure" and "strong". "Secure"= I do not want it to accidentally release. I am unlikely to break any lock, so "strong" does not impress me.

2) All of my wants are possible in any number of knives, so I will explore designs that interest me without breaking the bank.
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Agree , especially with number 2.
For me, some of these break the bank knives are in a large part hype. Marketing is an interesting phenomenon. My personal needs in a rather hard use work knife can be easily met with a quality reasonably priced knife.
 
I was originally mesmerized by the fancy new super steels that keep knocking each other off the mountain of superiority but then I realized that all I need is a good, solid knife with a sharp blade and some corrosion resistance. My other requirements are purely based on cosmetic appearance, Ergo's, brand loyalty or whatever else appeals to me! If you think about it...America was built with knives and tools made from much less quality steel that the cheapest Tobacco Village display knife at the mall! Those pioneers managed to discover new lands, blaze new trails and build everything we know today...with crap steel!
 
David Mary said:
I’d totally assume continuous progress 🤷‍♂️
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I’m optimistic, but a global nuclear war (which the current administration seems keen to provoke) would probably slow or even entirely stop steel development for centuries. :(
 
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