Steel Snobs: Your favorite steels?

[Synov]

3V
Magnacut
S90V
Rex 121

I feel like this covers the entire gamut of steels pretty well.

 

[marthinus]

Nitrobe-77.

But plenty of good choices around. List is too long but that is at the top.

 

[fuyume]

So what is/are your favorite steels, and what are their pros and cons?

420HC high carbon stainless. It's cheap, it's tough, it's easy to sharpen, it's highly resistant to corrosion. For my money, it's the best all-around steel for a knife that actually gets used outdoors. It's one weakness is that it doesn't hold and edge very long, but if you are relying on edge-holding in the backcountry, you should probably practice your sharpening skills more often.

 

[Bladefisher]

I don't think I qualify as a steel snob and based solely on personal EDC usage/needs K390 has been my favorite. I have owned/used many steels over the years, and I want to revisit Cruwear in a Spyderco and of course try a Spyderco Magnacut model when the prices drop on the secondary market.

 

[Chuck_Nunface]

If every folding pocket knife came in s90v, I wouldn't complain.

 

[el gigantor]

If every folding pocket knife came in s90v, I wouldn't complain.

Are you going to try for this badboy?

 

[Chuck_Nunface]

Are you going to try for this badboy?

Yeah that looks sweet. I had the old one in s90v. It had lock rock which spyderco didn't fix. Well, their solution was to tighten the pivot and send it back to me.

 

[ShaiHulud]

Once more for the record
8cr13mov is amazing

 

[PNWhovian]

Out of what I own and in no particular order:

3V/F3V
SR101
S35VN
20CV

 

[Monofletch]

I am not a snob. Good D2 is fine with me. CPM D2 is great. I do like Vanax. I can sweat all over it without having to worry.

 

[rodriguezryan14]

8670, MagnaCut, Buck’s 420HC, 4V, Sleipner, AEB-L, CD#1, 14C28N, 1V, S7, 5160, Nitro-V, 3V, A2, Cru-Wear, Z-Tuff.

I hate micro-chipping, so I like high-toughness steels, and on a typical day I gravitate towards carrying stainless. Usually MagnaCut or Buck’s 420HC. On a woods trip I’d go for any steel I just listed. Have had good experiences with all of those.

The more you use knives in the outdoors hunting and backpacking, the more you appreciate the tough steels. They hold a good enough edge for basically anything, yet they are easy to resharpen in the field, and will hold up to basically anything you throw at them! My favorites so far! A8 mod, 1v, ztuff, Aeb-l, 15n20, 3v, 4v, zwear, and magnucut. Those are the steels I use most in my blades!

 

[rodriguezryan14]

8670, MagnaCut, Buck’s 420HC, 4V, Sleipner, AEB-L, CD#1, 14C28N, 1V, S7, 5160, Nitro-V, 3V, A2, Cru-Wear, Z-Tuff.

I hate micro-chipping, so I like high-toughness steels, and on a typical day I gravitate towards carrying stainless. Usually MagnaCut or Buck’s 420HC. On a woods trip I’d go for any steel I just listed. Have had good experiences with all of those.

And personally, I think these extremely high carbide steels are overrated! My opinion! M4 is about the highest alloy I use!

 

[jfk1110]

Once more for the record
8cr13mov is amazing

For staples!