Steel(s) to Avoid

tim8557

tim8557

Joined
Nov 13, 2004
Messages
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I'm so lost on all of the steels out there and their tiny little differences. As my "Organic Hard Drive" (Brain) is pretty filled after 58 years, can someone simplify the whole deal? I'm guessing that 90+% of the steels referenced in all of these threads are good knife steels.

What steels should absolutely be avoided?
 
tim8557 said:
I'm guessing that 90+% of the steels referenced in all of these threads are good knife steels.
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That's correct.

I usually avoid all kinds of 420, although I think that they're sometimes acceptable in cheaper knives. That depends on whether I know the manufacturers overall quality to be good. Heat treat is a very important factor, so the alloy itself doesn't account for all performance aspects.

It also depends on the application. A rust-prone (but otherwise excellent) steel, like 52100 for example, would be inferior to 420 if you plan to use it as a diving knife.
 
Bucks 420HC rocks, don't put it down. I'll avoid United Cutlery's 420J though. 440A with a good heat treat will be fine. Just don't pay too much for it
 
Quiet Storm said:
I usually avoid all kinds of 420...
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The generic catch all "420" governs a large body of steel types, the difference among the various types of 420 is as much as the difference between 440A and 440C, so it depends on exactly what type of 420 is being made.

There really are no poor steels on the knifemarket, outside of the low end $1.99 flea market knives. They all have different advantages and disadvantages so you need to make sure you are getting a sensible choice for the blade type.

-Cliff
 
I steer clear of very cheap stainless or "surgical" steel usually found in Chinese and Pakistani knives. Otherwise, every steel has it's place.

Best Wishes,
Bob
 
Then there's CMP420V, better known as S30V, which is a top-of-the-line knife steel. Don't avoid that one. ;)

I think you need to match steel types to price points more than avoid specific steels. 420J in a $15 knife isn't exactly a mismatch. 420J in a $50 knife however is one to avoid. AUS-8 is a steel you'd expect in a $50 knife and is a perfectly decent, servicable steel. But don't buy a $150 knife with AUS-8.

For the most part, just stay away from Chinese copies and flea market junk. Don't buy anything that is meerly stamped "Stainless" or "Rostfrei". If this is on the knife, but there's no actual company, chances are it's a junk POS made from un-heattreated stamped steel.
 
Whoops,I only saw the words, avoid 420!
Even though Victorinox doesn't label their steel, it's not bad at all
 
I would recommend you avoid AUS-6, 420, and 440A.

All the rest are okay.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
The generic catch all "420" governs a large body of steel types, the difference among the various types of 420 is as much as the difference between 440A and 440C, so it depends on exactly what type of 420 is being made.
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That's why I said "usually". I like 420HC, but I'd guess that about 99% of the 420 blades out there are 420J2 heat-treated by a Chinese knock-off manufacturer.
 
Wade,
Case's steel is not the best, and they have taken a hit for it the last few years, the new case's seem to be geared more towards collectors..

its not horrible, but not great either and doesn't hold an edge well.
 
timjmayer said:
Wade,
Case's steel is not the best, and they have taken a hit for it the last few years, the new case's seem to be geared more towards collectors..

its not horrible, but not great either and doesn't hold an edge well.
Click to expand...

I figured this was the CASE. Haha. :P

That's a shame since they make a lot of attractive looking slip joints.
 
In the first instance I avoid any knife that the Maker does not tell you what the steel is EG "High Carbon Stainless Steel", "Surgical Steel", "Stainless Steel",
"440 Stainless Steel" (this one because the steel is normally 440A but the maker wants you to think it is the better 440C".

Secondly, a good guide IMO, esp., if you have limited knowledge of steels is to avoid any Stainless Steel that has less then .90% Carbon.
 
So I stick my head out and say: I don't really like 420HC. I do like Buck knives, the 110 in particular, its a classic, but I wish they would have used something else for their blades. I was quite happy to see Cabelas 110 in S30V. I can see them using 420HC for their larger fixed blades, but for a folder :(?
AUS-6 gets knocked lately a lot. At least the way Spyderco makes that steel I don't mind it at all. Doesn't have the greatest edge holding but it does take a very sweet edge and is easily touched up.
 
420 or other low end 400 series steel
Any 300 series steel (Mostly in dive knives)
"Surgical Steel"
Any steel from a company that does not know how to heat treat
Any steel simply listed as "Stainless"
 
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