Steels and durability for normal use?

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SomeNewGuy

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Hey guys I'm wondering about some good steels for every day normal use, you know light duty cutting chores and what not. What is the right steel for every day use for a normal guy to be able to sharpen with a Spyderco Sharkmaker.

I was considering a Para 2 but then i read that the S30v that it uses chips before it rolls and is tedious to sharpen. So what is a good steel and what good knife makers use them?

I don't know anything about the steels and I don't know what a good steal would be for a non-steel snob non-knife nut.
 
The 14c28n sandvick that kershaw uses on some of their folders does great for small tasks and is easy to get scary sharp on the sharpmaker. Especially if you purchase the extra fine stones. I intend to buy a wicked edge eventually for my s30v blades because they do chip and it takes hours on a sharpmaker to fix.
 
BrentD86 said:
The 14c28n sandvick that kershaw uses on some of their folders does great for small tasks and is easy to get scary sharp on the sharpmaker. Especially if you purchase the extra fine stones. I intend to buy a wicked edge eventually for my s30v blades because they do chip and it takes hours on a sharpmaker to fix.
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Yea so i think I'm going to avoid that para 2 then. I want like 10 minutes and its sharp not 2 hours.
 
Good to see you here on the weekdays! I thought we were only going to hear from you on the weekend when you were staying at chrisfa's and had access to his computer.

s30V is challenging to sharpen. If you want reasonably priced, easy to maintain, perfectly good edge retention, etc I say you can't beat AUS-8 with a stick.

Not "sexy", but it's perfectly good. I highly recommend it.
 
I like AUS8A and similar for users - can strop it on plain leather or cardboard here and there, do a couple strokes on the spine of another knife's blade, and even without out that it can do quite a bit and still shave if you sharpen it properly now and then. Less worry if you ding it on a nail, staple, drop it on the ground, etc.
 
marcinek said:
Good to see you here on the weekdays! I thought we were only going to hear from you on the weekend when you were staying at chrisfa's and had access to his computer.

s30V is challenging to sharpen. If you want reasonably priced, easy to maintain, perfectly good edge retention, etc I say you can't beat AUS-8 with a stick.

Not "sexy", but it's perfectly good. I highly recommend it.
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I got an iPhone, I didn't think you could access this site on it but I found out you can. Its a little bit of a pain to post but its still do-able.
 
Lol id say 90% of my posts are from my iphone, you'll be surprised how quickly you get used to it
 
BrentD86 said:
Lol id say 90% of my posts are from my iphone, you'll be surprised how quickly you get used to it
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I only got it because I got talked into it i rarely use it for the browser, I guess I haven't been using it to its full potential so far.
 
SomeNewGuy said:
Hey guys I'm wondering about some good steels for every day normal use, you know light duty cutting chores and what not. What is the right steel for every day use for a normal guy to be able to sharpen with a Spyderco Sharkmaker.

I was considering a Para 2 but then i read that the S30v that it uses chips before it rolls and is tedious to sharpen. So what is a good steel and what good knife makers use them?

I don't know anything about the steels and I don't know what a good steal would be for a non-steel snob non-knife nut.
Click to expand...


S30V isn't bad at all to sharpen, I use it for EDC more than any other steel, no problem keeping it up with a Sharpmaker either if that's what you use.
 
BrentD86 said:
The 14c28n sandvick that kershaw uses on some of their folders does great for small tasks and is easy to get scary sharp on the sharpmaker. Especially if you purchase the extra fine stones. I intend to buy a wicked edge eventually for my s30v blades because they do chip and it takes hours on a sharpmaker to fix.
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I'd second that. :thumbup:

It is quite good steel in use, and it is easy to get sharp again with whatever sharpening method you like to use.

I also like a decent 440C, but 14c28 or 13c26 would be my recommendations.
 
I'll toss out another steel suggestion...If you are not stuck on one handed folders, a Case in CV is a great "everyday" moderate use knife and the CV carbon steel is a pleasure to sharpen.

Both the CV and AUS8 sharpen easily on my Sharpmaker. Granted, you are not going to get "super steel" like edge retention.
 
SomeNewGuy said:
I got an iPhone, I didn't think you could access this site on it but I found out you can. Its a little bit of a pain to post but its still do-able.
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Great! If I recall, your cuz mentioned having one too. You two should share tips and tricks!
 
Hard to beat Buck's 420HC for every-day use. AUS8 has a pinch of vanadium for better edge holding. Any of the Sandvic steels used for cutlery will take a fine edge and are quite easy to sharpen. As forS30V, along with D2 and similar high carbide steels, a diamond hone works best.
 
marcinek said:
Great! If I recall, your cuz mentioned having one too. You two should share tips and tricks!
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Yea he got his before i did, He got it cause he wanted it I got mine because the att salesmen talked me into it at upgrade time lol.
 
marcinek said:
I'll toss out another steel suggestion...If you are not stuck on one handed folders, a Case in CV is a great "everyday" moderate use knife and the CV carbon steel is a pleasure to sharpen.

Both the CV and AUS8 sharpen easily on my Sharpmaker. Granted, you are not going to get "super steel" like edge retention.
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like the case sodbuster? I saw one at a tractor supply co and I'v been thinking of getting it.
 
A lot depends on what you consider to be "normal use"? For some people that means cutting cardboard all day, for some it means cutting drywall, and for some it means opening mail and cutting the occasional piece of tape.

As far as S30V, I guess experiences vary. I have three knives made of S30V, two have been regular users for several years, and I've never experienced any chipping or difficulty sharpening. I have a large Bradley Alias that is my EDC and when I need to sharpen it all it takes is a few strokes on a diamond hone and it's ready to shave with.

You hear a lot of things on the internet. Not all of them are true.
 
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killgar said:
A lot depends on what you consider to be "normal use"? For some people that means cutting cardboard all day, for some it means cutting dryway, and for some it means opening mail and cutting the occasional piece of tape.

As far as S30V, I guess experiences vary. I have three knives made of S30V, two have been regular users for several years, and I've never experienced any chipping or difficulty sharpening. I have a large Bradley Alias that is my EDC and when I need to sharpen it all it takes is a few strokes on a diamond hone and it's ready to shave with.

You hear a lot of things on the internet. Not all of them are true.
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Opening mail, cutting tape, some string, a piece of cheese, an apple. That sort of stuff.
 
SomeNewGuy said:
Opening mail, cutting tape, some string, a piece of cheese, an apple. That sort of stuff.
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You should have no issues with S30V, and it will stay sharp for a VERY, VERY long time in your uses.

S30V is one of the better user steels out there.
 
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