Stainless Supersteel Skinner: What is the best alloy and hardness?

black mamba

black mamba

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For those of you who are both modern steel gurus and also hunt and skin game, what of the stainless steels would you rate as best for a 4.5 - 5 inch skinning blade for deer to elk sized game? Please list the alloy and the hardness you would prefer, and why you made that choice. Both first and second place choices would be really appreciated.

I have used S90V @ 60 (Spyderco South Fork) with great success, but wonder if there is something better out there now. Thanks for all responses!
 
Never skinned anything with the "super steels" but have many times with Buck 420HC (119, 650 Nighthawk) and once with VG-10 (Spyderco Delica). Deer were no match for any of these so I imagine the super steels at any hardness would be more than up to the task. That said, Deer is the "toughest" thing I've hunted, elk hide may be much harder I'm not sure.
 
There are other more important items to consider with a skinning knife than just the steel and hardness. But if that's all you want... Your into S90V that one should be high in edge holding department. I like a 154cm @ 60, 440C @ 59, S30V @ 58, cmp-154 @ 60 and D2 @ 61. The first 3 grouped together are very close in edge holding and stainless ability. D2 is tougher and cmp-154 holds it's edge longer than the others and is easy to sharpen. Plus a good stainless. The one with the best grind and shape would get my pick. Any of these you cannot dull them skinning in one day. They will work you and still be slicing. DM
 
Thanks, David, good info. I hunt on a large property with several other hunters and last year we had 4 deer to skin and process on the same night. The S90V handled all four without a touch up. 440C and D2 have worked for me in the past, but not with the edge holding of the S90V @ 60.
 
I've used CPM 154 and Fallkniven's 3G and both do a fine job on elk .I don't ever expect an edge to last forever and always carry a fine diamond sharpener to touch up a blade if neccessary .That only takes a few seconds .That's just a freehand sharpening.
Skinning is never the problem as it's mostly a question of pulling off the hyde with occasional cutting .
Though not stainless a CPM 3V is excellent for the job !!
 
Mamba, Not many blade steels will top your S90V. I've noticed, perhaps you too. That it helps to keep a damp cloth handy when skinning/ processing game. When the blade begins to hang up or cut sluggish, just clean it off with the cloth. As the edge may not be dull, it's just loaded up with tissue. Preventing it from cutting. This cleaning refreshes it, allowing it to slide and helps it cut much longer. DM
 
I've got three I'm going to try this year. A small Hunter from CPE Knives, S35VN @ 60RC I think, and two from Big Chris. One is M4 @ 64RC and the other is 10V @ 64RC. All three should be overkill but we'll see.
 
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