Steel Decision

A

Aqualiteking

Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
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Hello, I am deciding to make a decent survival knife, but I couldn't decide on the steel to use. I'd prefer stainless, but anything will do. thanks
 
1095:)
 
For stainless go with s30v.It holds an excellent edge but was designed to sharpen easier than other stainless in the same rockwell.
 
You have to consider the heat treatment. How many knives have you made? If you are setup then a2 and s30v are good, otherwise you won't get the most out of the steel. You could get the blade heat treated professionally, but they are still expensive steels. Most stainlesses are hard to heat treat with simple tools. 1095 is a good simple steel that will work great and hold an edge well. If you do have heat treat equipment, then d2 would be a good choice too.
 
Do you have a source for F2...?

Between F2 and O1, O1 would be the better choice,
as F2 would be a bugger to sharpen with improvised
means.
 
What about W2? I found W2 to be durable, takes an edge and holds it pretty well.


The survival knife I'm looking at is a Bowie knife (I say looking at since I'm married).
 
If you have limited means I would recommend 5160, 1095 is great stuff but it requires a really fast quench oil to get the most of of the steel. If you are limited to improvised quenching oils then 5160 is a better choice, it is easier t get the most out of the steel. If you are going to have the blade heat treated professionally then I would go with d2, D2 and 5160 are great choices for survival knives. D2 is great unless you are making a sword and that is where 5160 takes the lead.

I would recommend staying away from A2, I personally can't see why people use it. It really has no advantages over other tool steels as far as knifes are concerned. The only real advantage is that is has way more toughness than any knife really needs, and for that you trade for very poor edge retention. As far as tool steels go D2 is great stuff, easy to sharpen, takes and holds a great edge, has good toughness and is a very well rounded steel.

For your project I would go with 5160, if you have fast quench oil I would recommend 1095. 1095 is a great steel for most knives under 10", anything too far over that 5160 is probably a better choice. It all really depends on the purpose of the knife.

-Josiah
 
I think your choice would be based on your level and tools for heat treating if you our just starting out I think 1065 or 5160 is best. Lorien said 1095 but this steel has a very sharp carve good treating can be tricky good luck
 
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