Stainless v. Carbon Steel

Samael

Samael

Joined
Sep 30, 2007
Messages
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If you're like me, every time you sit down to order a new knife you end up with six, seven, or sometimes even eight "chargeable options," and then face the unenviable chore of whittling the options down to five. Stainless steel is, of course, one of those options that I think about every time. I think most of us would always prefer that the knife be in stainless, but I'm curious how important that really is to you? Would you consider going with carbon (tool) steel to pick up an extra option? If you saw the perfect, totally-loaded knife, but it was in carbon steel, would you still buy it? Let me know your thoughts.
 
"If you saw the perfect, totally-loaded knife, but it was in carbon steel, would you still buy it? "

Yep...:)
 
Oh, hell, Shel, I know you would. I'm curious what some of the other folks will say though.
 
It's funny, I always look for stainless knives because it seems that most that I find for sale all have took steel blades. But if you look at my collection you would see that 80% of them are tool steel. If I were to find the perfect Randall, will all the options that I could think of, except it was missing the stainless blade, you bet I would get it, as long as the price was right:D
Dan in Kalifornia
 
Hah, I can't help it--I'm just a sucker when it comes to nicely optioned RMK's! To wit: I made a dozen calls today and only sold two individual cases of books and one bundle of Timelines. Still, feeling pretty good, I was tossed between hitting the hot tub or doing yard work (the hot tub was winning the toss btw); then the phone rang....

I really only wanted one of 'em, but after all was done and said, tomorrow five newer RMK's are heading my way--three in carbon steel, two in stainless, all with lots of options. One more queen for the safe...lol :D
 
Except for the stain-resistant properties (which can be mitigated with care. . . or cutting up some meat and apples for an afternoon to patina the blade), what's the advantage of the Stainless? I would have thought the carbon-steel would be more desirable in a user-knife if only b/c it holds and edge better.
 
Dennis, you're correct that the tool steel blades will take an ever-so-slightly sharper edge. There are a fair number of "Randall Nuts" out there who worry enough about getting rust on their $300, $400, $500, $600, or even $700 knife that they won't consider anything other than stainless.

I'm with you guys - it's not a big deal to me. But I don't live in Florida, Louisiana, or East Texas either.
 
I'm pretty sure Bo started with carbon steel. That's good enough for me!
 
I like carbon steels - I think of it as giving me the choice - to patina or not patina. I actually usually keep 'em shiny. Really though, I really enjoy how carbon blades respond to sharpening. I haven't found a tool or carbon steel yet that has given me a problem. I've had some stainless ones that were hell sharpening and one that I could never actually get as sharp as I like despite a lot of hard work.
 
I would like to add a comment. There is general knowledge S/S was / is harder to get a razor sharp edge. I found the geometry of the blade makes it easy or hard to sharpen. My model 7 is easier to sharpen than my thicker blade model 3. A model 1 is easier to sharpen than a model 14 or 16. A few custom knives never did pit, i.e. Jerry Rados 440C, Loveless 154 cm, or my Case S/S pocket knives. :D

I live in Florida and had S/S knives pit. Pete Hamilton was quite surprised when I brought 14 knives into the shop to be buffed out. Gary asked me not to do that again. It puts them behind. My keepers, users, all are carbon except my dive knife, M 16. They do NOT rust or pit. The trick is to use them not store them. I found that out the hard way.:o
 
samael,
i recently ordered a number 4, from the shop when i was in fl, i selected the carbon tool steel, have absolutely no issue with carbon, however the other randall that i own is a buxton ss.
i have several tool steel knives and i am making sure that they are preserved, wax paper does wonders for storage and preservation.
 
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