So many different steels

Current folder steels in no particular order, also strictly from memory so may be missing a couple..

Magnacut
Maxamet
K390
Rex 45
Vanax
CTS-XHP
M4
3V
XDP-189
154CM
CPM154
M390
20CV
CTS 204p
S110V
S90V
S45VN
S35VN
S30V
14c28n
ELMAX
VG-10
420HC
440c
D2
AUS-10
AUS-8
9cr18mov
8cr13mov
 
Last edited:
I have two in S45VN, and one in Magnacut. Two more in Victorinox’s steel.

I also had my steel phase, and realized I could do just fine with most modern day steels, in fact they are overkill most days.

What I learned above all else is that geometry trumps all in knives. A brick made of MagnaCut will not cut more cardboard than a razor-blade made of 8cr13mov.
 
Reading the subsequent posts reminded me of another half a dozen or so steels I have owned. 🤣

I updated my post. I wonder if there are more that I'm forgetting....
 
Like almost everyone in this hobby I too had a steel collecting phase. Spyderco are mainly to blame for scratching that itch, as they are one of the few that experiment with new (to knives) steels.

It all started with a Tenacious below are the steels in my collection in no particular order.

8Cr13MoV
VG-10
1.2379 (D2)
154CM
S30V
S35VN
S90V
S110V
K390
M4
M390, 20CV, M390MK
Maxamet
Magnacut
Rex-121
CTS-XHP
1075

As an urb*nite who rarely goes camping, most of the steels above are on folders. 1075 is on a Condor Kukri, but nowadays I prefer carrying a small Husqvarna axe instead but I have no clue what the steel there is so it isn't listed. Most of my other fixed blades are by Manly, small to medium sized, all in 1.2379 and the latest being a small one in Magnacut.

I feel like I am sorta out of the "gotta have all the steels" as I've more or less figured out what I like in a steel. Not by choice most of my knives are in M390 variants, I'll prioritize an appealing design and comfort over steel, they just happen to come with a good steel as well. My favorites include

M4
K390
VG-10/154-CM
S35VN (in CRKs)
CTS-XHP

Magnacut, Maxamet and Rex 121 are way too new to my collection, but after getting the Rex 121 Sage 5 I'm really liking the edge retention.
 
This year, for the first time in my life, I bought a knife with the specific intent of getting it in a particular blade steel.

I got our son a larg Sebenza 31 in Magnicut. I could have gotten it in another hiigh alloy {I don't remember what just how), but I wanted him to have the trendy-est high end folder available so he could top anything his several brothers-in-law had.

Seems that materials science will always provide us with yet another magic steel, so maybe this knife will become passe in a few years (or months). I remember that back in the 1980s 154CM was the steel. . . .it is as good now as ever it was then, but no one is excited about it now In the past twenty years or so we have seen S30V, S35VN and now stels with other letters and a 4 in their naming . .noe it is Magnicut . . . . .and so it goes.
 
knarfeng said:
I went through my "steel junkie" phase, specifically buying knives with different blade steels so I could form an opinion. Did a fair amount of edge retention testing on my own. So I have a fair number of alloys.
Click to expand...
What were your conclusions?
 
Think you guys named quite a few. Mind is blown for sure. Sure are plenty of choices. Get what ya pay for I guess.
 
Have knives in a bunch of different steels but all I really like are M4, 3V and Magnacut. I like the design of the Swisstool and SAKs in general so I am ok with their soft steel.

I have S30v, Gin1, VG10, LC200n, H1, 420 that buck uses, and a bunch of older stuff not marked with steel type.
 
Quite a few, but I am a simple person. Ergonomics, grind and usability are way higher on my importance scale.

If it's a folder I prefer something stainless, and my fixed knives should be tough.

Today I carry a VG10 Delica and the BK14 in 1095Cro-Van - Both steels are easy to maintain and I'm happy with their performance.

I don't own anything in Magnacut or 3V yet, but these are definitely on my list of knives to get..
 
I’ve thinned the heard a ton recently in an effort to keep my life simpler. So I have:

420hc- fixed
1095- fixed 3 total
A2- fixed x 1
Nitro-V- fixed x 2
Cru-wear- fixed x1
Magnacut- fixed x1
s35vn- fixed x 1

420hc- folder x1
s30v- folder x1
D2- folder x1
XHP- folder x 1
H1- folder x 1
Aus8- folder x 1
Whatever stainless used in SAK’s x 5
Whatever stainless used in Case Knives x 2
 
I appreciate the science, skill, and knowledge that goes into all of the various steel types - and how they perform in their intended use.

I don't really base my purchase decisions on it anymore, though. I spend a lot more time working on my skills to keep them sharp.
 
17c
9c
d2
s30
m4
m390
elmax
s90
s35
s45
k390
zdp189
super aogami
hap40
10v
cruwear

Some I haven't used at all yet, but I've at least tried most of these


I think it's somewhat marketing, with some truth in there too. I think there's probably three tiers with two categories each, low mid and high stainless and tool steels. I haven't tried everything but there's some truth in edge retention. They all seem to get just as sharp off the stones though. Softer knives can be stropped on a 2x4 which is kinda nice. Harder knives are more brittle and chip where a softer knife would bend. I'd say my old 17c knife dulls 3-4 times faster than my s30v workhorse. Not cutting paper by the end of the week, instead of at end of day (I'm not the heaviest or hardest of user though). The geometry of the edge seems to matter even more than steel in how much cardboard you're gonna process though. None of it is important as having a knife you like though. Having to put 30 more newtons of force per foot of cardboard or whatever is usually worth it for a knife you think is cool. Same for sharpening or stropping a little more often
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top