Steel preference.

S

Sisyfos

Joined
Feb 16, 2023
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May i ask members preference for the steel of a folding EDC knife ? 14C28N , Niolox , Rwl34 or suminagashi ? Thanks
 
shane45-1911 said:
You will get dozens of different answers. Everyone has a favorite steel for their applications.

Or are you only asking about those 4 specific steels? If so, my answer is "none of the above".
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Thank you for your reply. I am asking for those 4 specific steels. May i ask why ""none of the above" and what is your preference steel? Thanks.
 
Sisyfos said:
Thank you for your reply. I am asking for those 4 specific steels. May i ask why ""none of the above" and what is your preference steel? Thanks.
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My EDC could see any number of cutting tasks over the course of the day - some mundane, others more intense.

Therefore, I want a well-rounded steel (jack of all trades, master of none) that has a good balance of toughness and edge retention. I tend to avoid designer-steels and stick with tried and true 154CM, CPM154, S35VN, VG10, AEB-L or ELMAX.
 
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Sisyfos said:
May i ask members preference for the steel of a folding EDC knife ? 14C28N , Niolox , Rwl34 or suminagashi ? Thanks
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Niolox is damn decent steel. 14C28N if heat treated just right can also be quite good, but I'm all about edge retention. Niolox for the win here for me.
 
It's much more important to know how to sharpen and maintain an edge than it is to pick the steel alloy.

That said, my favorite EDC steel is Vanax Super Clean, because it is the most stainless, it holds a great edge, it takes a keen, fine-grained edge and has decent toughness for an EDC steel. But it is difficult to find.
 
20CV, M390, ZDP-189, Damasteel, Vegas Forge SS Damascus. But I'm American and your steels seem European.
 
Sisyfos said:
May i ask members preference for the steel of a folding EDC knife ? 14C28N , Niolox , Rwl34 or suminagashi ? Thanks
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A) The one you like best.
2) All Four.
Three) Add more specific detail on why those four specific steels as the maker and heat treat protocol will have a huge effect on the finished knife.
 
Sisyfos said:
May i ask members preference for the steel of a folding EDC knife ? 14C28N , Niolox , Rwl34 or suminagashi ? Thanks
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14C28N is incredibly tough but you will need to sharpen it a lot. I doubt you need such a tough knife for EDC. Niolox is a bit more balanced than 14C28N. RWL34 is the most balanced of the four. Suminagashi... just no. I say RWL34.
 
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Rwl34 is basically the same as CPM 154, so that's what I would pick.

I don't have a knife in 14C28N, but I understand that it's very similar to AEB-L in composition, which I love, so I wouldn't mind trying.
 
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Fixed blades I prefer 1095, O1, A2, 3V.
Folders I prefer s30v, s35vn, xhp, lc200n.
For either fixed or folders I like 420hc, aeb-l, h1.
I like some others but these are favorites
 
I think the type of steel is incredibly unimportant...

I like a small sebenza because it is well made and the right size and design to do everything i need

Crk could use any steel, from magnacut, to 440b, 80crv2, Don't really care... I'd still carry a small sebenza
 
Of the four listed I'd take RWL-34, which according to Larrin Thomas is the same thing as CPM-154. But it depends on your intended use. I also like 14c28n, which is much tougher and more corrosion resistant than RWL-34, but it's edge retention isn't great.
 
Not familiar with those you mentioned.
For work folders I’ll take something simple, fairly tough and inexpensive. I like BD1 or something similar.
For after work my favorites are 154cm/CPM154, M4 and S90v.
 
shane45-1911 said:
My EDC could see any number of cutting tasks over the course of the day - some mundane, others more intense.

Therefore, I want a well-rounded steel (jack of all trades, master of none) that has a good balance of toughness and edge retention. I tend to avoid designer-steels and stick with tried and true 154CM, CPM154, S35VN, VG10, AEB-L or ELMAX.
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RWL-34 is almost identical to CPM154 which is basically just like 154CMs prettier sister.
 
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