Stainless only on knife.....

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Brian.Evans

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How do you guys feel about stainless only on a knife pattern. I mean, no carbon steel option, only a nice stainless like ATS-34/154CM? Would it be a huge turn off and keep you from buying a nice swell end jack? I feel like it might be, but I haven't made my mind up yet.
 
Depends on the steel, but it shouldn't be a problem. Think about the annual Case/Bose collaborations. Only available in stainless and they sell out every year.

- Christian
 
I will let you in on a little secret, Stainless steels like CPM154 etc hold there edge longer than say, o1 or 10XX series carbon blades.
 
In all honesty I steer clear of carbon steel on folding knives. I'm glad there is a choice and that many knife makers use stainless on their traditional patterned slip joints. I'll take a good stainless everyday. ATS-34, 154-CM, CPM-154 are a few that excel. There are many others too.

That being said, most of my fixed blades are high carbon steel.
 
I likewise greatly prefer stainless.
It's more useful to me for how I use a pocket knife.
 
I have a good mix of stainless and carbon steels in my collection. There are more important factors for me usually, such is the ability to pluck the blade open and tight finish. If I like a knife, the steel won't be a deal breaker as long as it is at least decent.
 
I'm the odd man out, so far, because I won't buy a knife for personal use with a stainless blade. Most people do prefer stainless on customs, but I feel like it's a good idea to offer both stainless and not.
 
Some of my favorite blades are of the stain less variety :) There was a time when that is all I would buy...
 
I quite like stainless and would love there to be a broader selection of good stainless steel offerings in traditional patterns.
 
jc57 said:
I quite like stainless and would love there to be a broader selection of good stainless steel offerings in traditional patterns.
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Same here. I love Great Eastern Cutlery's patterns and styling but can't bring myself to buy a knife with 1095 when I live in such a humid environment.
 
I usually consider pattern before blade steel, unless I'm buying the knife for a specific job. I would have no qualms about buying any of GEC's offerings in their 440C stainless. I've seen some really nice Queens (S&Ms) recently in D2 and ATS-34. I believe Derrick (KSF.com) just released some Indian River Jacks w/ CPM-154 blades and they sold very well (still kicking myself for NOT pulling the trigger on a beautiful Mammoth one when I had the chance). The only exception I find is that I really wish Case released more knives with their CV blade steel, not because their stainless is bad in any way, but because I've heard such great things about the CV and I want to try it out but I'm not into peanuts or trappers.
 
medicevans said:
How do you guys feel about stainless only on a knife pattern. I mean, no carbon steel option, only a nice stainless like ATS-34/154CM? Would it be a huge turn off and keep you from buying a nice swell end jack? I feel like it might be, but I haven't made my mind up yet.
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Totally the opposite. I much prefer SS, even the low grade types, to 1095. I can live with D2. The stainlessness is a big factor for me.
 
I am immensely hard on knives. Not abuse but if they're in the pocket they will cut through knots and other gritty bits of wood. I find carbon impractical and look for a high end stainelss first off all the time, I also don't really like patina either so stainless is the only option for me. I still love the tradittional patterns though :)
 
I think I hope I just ordered a Northwoods Canoe in D2 from KSF. I wanted a number 15 for my 15th anniversary -something special and different.
 
Just my preference but I won't buy a custom if I don't have my choice of steel, which is carbon.
 
I like stainless steel and have no problem with it. In fact, in some cases I actually prefer the stainless. I used to carry the carbon Opinel's, but after I used a stainless one for a while, I found out that the stainless one actually held a better edge. And Karen, my better half has had a stainless Mora for over 20 years that has held up to whatever she dishes out, and that woman cn dish up some abuse on a knife. Both the Opinel and Mora are 12C27, and I've been very impressed with it. When I add in my life's experience with Buck knives stainless for 25 years with my old 301 stockman and another 5 with 303 cadet, and all those years with a 102 woodsman, I'm happy as a clam in the mud with good stainless.

Ye, carbon has the patina that we love, but when push comes to shove and there's something to cut, I just care that the steel does it's job. The only place I thing carbon still has an advantage is the bigger heavy duty choppers like machetes and hatchets. But for a pocket knife, I can go with a good stainless with no problemo!:)
 
I think stainless only would be fine and make a great knife. My avatar canoe is stainless liners, spring, and bolsters but a carbon steel blade. If it was all stainless, I wouldn't like it less. My knife doesn't use blade steel for the scales and bolsters, just a stainless grade like 316 or something. I forget the specific steel grade.

Ed J
 
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