Steel Reccomendation

Szilard

Szilard

Joined
Mar 5, 2012
Messages
363
For a fairly small EDC fixed blade, if you had a choice between stainless 440C, semistainless D2, or tool steel A2 or O1 which would you choose and why?

I'm currently leaning towards D2 as a midpoint of properties but would be curious to hear others opinions.
 
skip the 440. I think D2 is a really great steel and i don't know anything to speak of about the other 2. have you considered s30v or on the cheaper end, vg-10? in my experience both make great edc steels.
 
What is the knife going to be used for? The tool steels are tougher in case you intend to chop or pry with the blade. Something like S30V would be more corrosion resistant and good for cutting, but not for prying.

Generally when I hear people talk about a fixed blade for EDC I think that they want a knife to be tough or else they would have chosen a folder.
 
I have no problems using 440C for EDC, or for pretty much anything else. I consider well done 440C to be dinkum stuff. It will also require the least care as it is the most corrosion resistant of the alloys you mention.

Of the alloys you mention, D2 will hold an edge the longest. If you can live with less corrosion resistance, it would be a good choice as well.

I don't see a particular need for toughness in a small fixed blade for EDC, so I am not certain that I see an advantage to the non-stainless O1 and A2, though I do love the lovely sharp edge on O1 that you get with so little effort.
 
I don't intend to chop unless it is a seriously strange circumstances and I *never* pry with any of my knives. Simple cutting and slicing is all. I'd prefer a nicer stainless like S30V but these are the options I have available. That being said - D2 seems to be getting good compliments. I have an Adamas in D2 that I take care of and I don't have much of a problem with corrosion so I'm feeling pretty confident there. I don't have any experience with A2 or O1 so I was just curious to see if someone would come in and really sell me on either.
 
I'd personally go with 440C because corrosion resistance is important to me. I've liked it's performance in the few knives I've had it in.
 
From my experience 440C - good corrosion resistance, easy to resharpen, cheaper, less prone to chip
 
Szilard said:
For a fairly small EDC fixed blade, if you had a choice between stainless 440C, semistainless D2, or tool steel A2 or O1 which would you choose and why?

I'm currently leaning towards D2 as a midpoint of properties but would be curious to hear others opinions.
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440C is probably my pick of the bunch. It is interesting that you call D2 the "midpoint of properties", when I think of D2 as an example of an extreme. The large carbides make it hard to get a fine edge, and as someone obsessed with trying to get that hair-whittling perfect edge, it is quite frustrating. And sometimes there is a tendency for the carbides to tear out while sharpening... also very frustrating
 
knarfeng said:
... though I do love the lovely sharp edge on O1 that you get with so little effort.
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+1. And, honestly, if I want stainless (which I usually don't really care about) 440C is more than fine. (In fact, for me, AUS-8 is more than fine.)

D2, I just find to be a pain to sharpen. That's just me, I guess. It just doesn't bring much to the party in my book.
 
O-1 for me due to the edge quality, stability, and ease of sharpening. If W2 wasn't so rare nowadays I'd go with that too.

A2would be second, D2 next, and 440C would not really make the list. It's a good steel but I just don't care for it. Maybe when Carpenters powder version gets out ( cts-40cp) I'll try it again and probly like it very well.
 
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