So which knife steel gave you the sharpest edge?

[Big Mike]

So which knife steel gave you the sharpest edge?

I can get low alloy steels like 52100 or O1, and many of the simple 10XX steels hair popping sharp very easily,

...but I feel I can get all my edges equally sharp, some just take more time and patients.


Of course, the time and patients usually pays off when it comes to the added edge retention.

In the field or on the job-site that added edge retention is often a plus.

In the kitchen or deer camp the ease of keeping a lower alloy steel at it's maximum sharpness just works for me.




Big Mike

 

[medicnatt]

hands down my Pohan Leu, strictly because of the zero grind.

 

[fsatsil]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned 13c26 or 14c28n, they get scary sharp with very little effort.

 

[james terrio]

You'll notice that all the favorites folks are listing have something in common: fine, consistent grain structure. That's really all that matters when strictly discussing how sharp an edge can get.

 

[ryanryan12]

for me its cpm-d2

 

[retzius]

VG10 for me, get "scary sharp" but still keeps it toothiness and doesnt lose it bite.

 

[Steel130]

Nitrobe 77. 5 degrees per side, able to shave, whittle hair and still able to cut irrigation pipe and other edc chores.

Where did you get ahold of Nitrobe 77? I would really like to try it out since it utilizes Nitrogen. Seems very hard to get ahold of though.

 

[Gunsnknives]

I really like the keen edge of CPM3V and Aogami Super Blue. For Stainless I like the keen edges on S35VN and 154 CM.

Overall winner for me is probably CPM 3V, but I'd love to try Zwear...

 

[HwangJino]

Any carbon steel I love.

Im most familiar with single bevels, so they're all above average in sharpness.

But sharpness comes from steel hardness, the harder the better.
my yanagi steel average around 63-65 hrc.

 

[marthinus]

Where did you get ahold of Nitrobe 77? I would really like to try it out since it utilizes Nitrogen. Seems very hard to get ahold of though.

Des Horn. I purchased a model Imvubu. If you google Des Horn Imvubu you should get my review. On the phone now so a bit difficult to post links.

Nitrobe 77 is discontinued, so limited amount available, a shame really, I have poked around and there are some other high Nitrogen steels, but seems limited in supply in strip form. Vanax from Bohler looks good, but that is under development again since last I heard.

There are others containing Nitrogen as well, N680, 14C28N, but not as high % as Nitrobe 77.

 

[Lee D]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned 13c26 or 14c28n

agreed. I have no problem sharpening those two as well as Buck's 420, VG-10 and 1095 to a wicked sharp edge.

 

[Bob6794]

Don't have too much experience with different steels and I have discovered in the past few weeks I don't know nearly as much about sharpening as I thought. But I have had good luck with the Aus 8 in my Ka-bar Dozier, I believe that is already set at 15 degrees from the factory.

 

[unit]

You'll notice that all the favorites folks are listing have something in common: fine, consistent grain structure. That's really all that matters when strictly discussing how sharp an edge can get.

Well, yes. But if you are good, you can sharpen a pile of diarrhea to atom splitting.

If'n yer gonna brag, brag big

Edit to clarify: The above is total BS. Sometimes, I say silly things for giggles.
Truth of the matter is, for "sharp" to exist, we need a good alloy that is finely treated in order for it to sustain what ever type of edge we deem best exemplifies "sharp" long enough to enjoy it.

 

[unit]

Well, yes. But if you are good, you can sharpen a pile of diarrhea to atom splitting.

If'n yer gonna BS, BS big

Fixed.

 

[singularity35]

Well, yes. But if you are good, you can sharpen a pile of diarrhea to atom splitting.

If'n yer gonna brag, brag big

Sig line material right there Ken.

 

[unit]

Sig line material right there Ken.

Glad it's being appreciated properly

 

[flatface77]

I seem to be able to get most steels to the same sharpness but the ones that surprise me early in the effort are 1095, AUS8 & 420 when done right. I thought I noticed this quality with AUS8 years ago but wasn't sure if it was just a few good blades or some other factor. My observation was pleasantly confirmed once I found Bladeforums.

Most surprising to me was M390.

 

[cpio]

Super Blue and M4 get pretty sharp for me.

I've gotten some of my best edges from Hitachi Super Blue and CPM-M4. I've had amazing results with Hitachi White Steel 2, ZDP-189, CPM-3V, CPM-S90V, CPM-S110V and A2 as well.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

All I have is 8Cr13MoV, 9Cr13MoV and AUS8A.

So far, have only completely rebevel an apexed 8Cr, and what Spyderco does to their Resilience outcut the Enlan EL02, at least from the sample I have.

@ Ken (unit),
me so honing .. :thumbup:

 

[sodak]

All of them. Some take longer than others, but for me, no difference in final sharpness, even including D2, so much for that urban legend...