Stainless Steel vs. Carbon and Tool Steel; What Makes the Difference?

[Balboa256]

I can carve a spoon with a knife in 440C just as easily as if I were using 01. The geometry matters much more than the steel IMHO. I like using different steels. Its always fun to notice edge retention, corrosion resistance and shapenablility. I do tend to favor stainless in a game knife. Im not really picky and I am just fine using a well crafted blade in 440C as I am using one in A2.

 

[goodeyesniper]

those three classifications all have fuzzy lines in their definition. there's already been misinformation posted here comparing m390 to tool steels, however m390 (and most high alloy, high wear steels) IS a tool steel.

many people consider tool steels only to be non stainless but high alloy, which is incorrect. stainless characteristics come in handy in many tooling applications, and many stainless tool steels are developed specifically for those applications. if you look at nearly any steel that knife nuts consider to be super steel, you'll find almost all were developed as tool steels.

 

[Professor]

To this day, my non-stainless steel favorite is still D2.

Me too, my friend. Benchmade does wonders with it in my opinion. As you and I know, VA is no slouch when it comes to humidity in the summers, and BM's D2 has held up very well for me. It's also taught me to appreciate the flat grind at ~61RC.

Prof.

 

[adc5]

I have had cheap stainless and hi quality stainless, the same is true for carbon or tool steel over the years. I have never found one steel that actually performs any better than the other one. The cheap stuff didn't last as long but I still have a stainless knife expensive at the time, that is 25 or 30 years old and still works just as good as any of my newer knives. It's not the steel that matters it's the way the steel was heat treated/made.

Eh... The heat-treat is REALLY important, yes (think ESEE 1095 or Benchmade D2), BUT...

You will never get 420J2 to perform like 154CM, given equal heat-treatment. Granted if you didn't HT the 154CM properly or at all, and the 420J2 was done a superb job with, you might be able to make a case there... But all other things equal, steel matters [maybe not as much as some knife junkies seem to think].

 

[adc5]

those three classifications all have fuzzy lines in their definition. there's already been misinformation posted here comparing m390 to tool steels, however m390 (and most high alloy, high wear steels) IS a tool steel.

many people consider tool steels only to be non stainless but high alloy, which is incorrect. stainless characteristics come in handy in many tooling applications, and many stainless tool steels are developed specifically for those applications. if you look at nearly any steel that knife nuts consider to be super steel, you'll find almost all were developed as tool steels.

Yes, exactly; and I'd love it if someone would give me a clear definition of all (stainless, tool, and carbon steel).

 

[bdmicarta]

Yes, exactly; and I'd love it if someone would give me a clear definition of all (stainless, tool, and carbon steel).

But there isn't one. IIRC put 12% chrome into carbon steel and it is classified as stainless. Any steel that can be appropriately hardened can be a tool steel, and after all knives are tools. Tool steels can have additional requirements for instance high speed steel is supposed to maintain its heat treat at higher temperatures that it might encounter during use in motorized machinery. Beyond this there are a lot of different combinations of alloy ingredients, heat treats, etc.

If you read a lot on these forums you'll figure out that carbon steels can be a little tougher than stainless steels, there are some very good steels in either category, and of course carbon steel will patina and beyond that it can rust.