Starting steels for newb

[Sirgreggins]

I'm getting ready to make my first knives. I'm going to make my own kitchen knife set and a few fixed blade knives of varying styles. (Drop Point, tanto, bowie. etc). I just built my own 2x72 and belts. Since I'm going to be sending out my steel to Peter's heat treating, I was curious what you guys would recommend for non stainless carbon steels. I have to pay by the batch so does any one of these stand out? Sharpness would be my primary concern. I'm thinking of going with 52100, w2 o1 to start.

 

[jbmonkey]

o1 should be easy enough to work with including heat treating and gets scary sharp easily. i also really like 52100.

 

[sabre cat]

I've never heard anything bad about 52100.

 

[Sirgreggins]

Have either of you seen an advatage to one over the other?