Steels and durability for normal use?

Ankerson said:
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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Even though i still haven't found a para 2 in stock anywhere yet. So it doesn't look like that's going to be my choice.
 
SomeNewGuy said:
Even though i still haven't found a para 2 in stock anywhere yet. So it doesn't look like that's going to be my choice.
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Yeah they are back ordered, look on the exchange here, they come up now and then. :)
 
Not sure about the Ripple, but I love my Skyline for 'lighter' tasks. It is nimble, feels good in the hand, got a flipper (if you into that) and the 14c28n can take a pretty ridiculously fine edge.

Honestly the only downside I see is lower edge retention than most higher end steels, but its great for everyday use IMO.

In that price range, I like the Skyline even over my Leek and RAT-1
 
SomeNewGuy said:
i pulled the trigger on the skyline
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Excellent choice! Enjoy! I see you have a Sharpmaker...

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.
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...and that your cousin has one too...

FrankieSchwartz said:
in terms of what im looking for is a nice ergonomic blade with a in between of edge holding capability and sharpen-ability. Id like to be able to sharpen it on my sharpmaker and not have it take hours to get sharp that's all. Also a decent size i got big hands but id like the blade to be under 4 inches, 3.5 is a pretty good size in my opinion.
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(Looks like you both have big hands too...must run in the family! :)

SomeNewGuy said:
I have i guess pretty big hands so id like a bigger sized knife. My legal limit here is i believe no more then 4 inch blade length, But I know I wouldn't even need more then that anyway. I will also carry it everyday, most of its time will be spent closed in my pocket or just being fondled for fun.
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)

But I am digressing! Back to my point.

If you find sharpening a hassle, and you are both using the same Sharpmaker, make sure you clean those Sharpmaker rods! Scrubber sponge, cleanser, a ride in the dishwasher...all are going to make that Sharpmaker much easier to use. Much easier! And easier means you can get a steel with less edge retention...because you will be a Sharpmaker whiz with those clean rods. Trust me! :thumbup: The thing works SO much better clean, and two users are really gonna clog those suckers.
 
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I dig benchmade's 154cm. It rarely chips and only does when I whack it off metal, even then it's only a small chip. The edge retention is pretty good too.
 
S30V chipping? Really? When I had my BM 930, it got abused a bit... Some guy I knew used it to scrape a glass bowl for resin when we were camping, and it only rolled the edge. Cut some plastic crap off the bottom of my car after I wrecked it, and accidentally ran it into the hardened steel bumper. It didn't chip. Ran it across a heavy staple in some cardboard... Rolled/dented really good, but it didn't chip.

My uses are very similar to yours ( except for these few cases above ) and I never had a problem with S30V. Very good steel IMO
 
S30V was chippy when it was fairly new and companies were still getting the heat treat down, but that was probably 10 years ago or so, although it seems to always get brought up, probably from people reading older threads on it.
 
michaelm466 said:
S30V was chippy when it was fairly new and companies were still getting the heat treat down, but that was probably 10 years ago or so, although it seems to always get brought up, probably from people reading older threads on it.
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Exactly

And to KennyB, scraping your glass bowls with a knife is am easy way to break the bottom out of your piece... I speak with much experience... ;)
 
mkjellgren said:
Exactly

And to KennyB, scraping your glass bowls with a knife is am easy way to break the bottom out of your piece... I speak with much experience... ;)
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Heh, yeah that's actually what I thought too, along with "Man I wish I had known that's what you were going to use it for." Figured he was going to sharpen some sticks for marshmallows or something haha

But I swear it really was my friend. I always think when I tell that story people are going, "Oh, sure your 'friend' was doing it", but I just don't want people to think that I was the one (ab)using the knife like that :P
 
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.
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You can assume that any steel that you get in a knife from a long standing knife company will be successful for EDC. I think new knife owners get way to carried away by steels. They worry way to much about it compared to size and handle shape and blade shape, IMHO.

Lastly, the ceramic rods used in the Sharpmakers are many times harder than the hardest steel and will sharpen any steel blade very successfully.

Here is a link to a discussion about knives by my guru Bladesmith, Joe Talmadge.

http://zknives.com/knives/articles/knifesteelfaq.shtml

So get the para and enjoy it if that is what floats your boat.
 
s30v is one of my favorite EDC steels.
Actually it probably is my favorite EDC steel.
I've EDC'd knives in several different steels but s30v is the best IMHO.
Elmax is awesome too, but I only have one knife in that.

I have never had any issues with s30v chipping, it can roll, but only if you're using it pretty heavily.
And that's normally only when you hit something with it.
It sharpens up fairly easy as well, I was told it's hard to sharpen, I've never experienced that.
I also really love Spyderco's s30v. It just seems like they have it perfectly right lol.
Check that big auction site for Para 2's. That's where I got mine.

The Skyline is one of the best cheaper knives I've ever had the pleasure of using though. But my Sebenza, Para 2, and Spyderco Chokwe are my 3 favorites. Two are s30v and have been used daily for lengthy periods of time, and the other is s35vn and has been used every day for quite a while now.
 
I'm not too experienced with s30v but I have to agree.
For the work I do, I cut through almost anything non metalic and only sharpen 1 every 2 weeks or so
 
If you aren't cutting anything abrasive the steel choice is much less important. You aren't going to dull a knife very quickly by slicing an apple, regardless of the steel.
 
marcinek said:
Excellent choice! Enjoy! I see you have a Sharpmaker...



...and that your cousin has one too...



(Looks like you both have big hands too...must run in the family! :)

)

But I am digressing! Back to my point.

If you find sharpening a hassle, and you are both using the same Sharpmaker, make sure you clean those Sharpmaker rods! Scrubber sponge, cleanser, a ride in the dishwasher...all are going to make that Sharpmaker much easier to use. Much easier! And easier means you can get a steel with less edge retention...because you will be a Sharpmaker whiz with those clean rods. Trust me! :thumbup: The thing works SO much better clean, and two users are really gonna clog those suckers.
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Were not using the same one, I got mine at a yard sale for 40$. Along with a cammilus yellow jacket slip joint for 10$ and a Geoffery Beene wallet for 5$. And yes i have big hands, just like pretty much all of my family, I'm 6'2 170lbs.
Let me ask you this, How many others on the forums have a sharkmaker and have big hands? I'm sure plenty do.
 
With my knife in S30v, a quick stropping will bring it back to hair-popping sharp if you didn't let it get too dull.
Amazing how it responds to a quick stropping.
 
S30V and S35VN are both great user steels, although you're right that they're harder to sharpen than others. But they stay sharp a long time. I think S35Vn is a little easier to sharpen.

154CM is usually pretty easy to sharpen, and does very well. That's another that Spyderco does very very well.

I've been really happy with Elmax and M390 (ZT 560 and HTM Gun Hammer), but those are likely far outside your budget at this time, since you haven't gotten hooked enough on the good stuff.

There are a lot of great steels, but basically, you're looking for good edge retention, ease of sharpening, and how fine an edge it can take. Most steels should be fine in 2 of those categories. If you like resharpening, don't sweat the edge retention. If you just want it to GO, pick something with good edge retention and touch it up every few days with the fine rod on the Sharpmaker or with a loaded strop.
 
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