Steels you never (or never again) intend to buy. And why?

I've been staying away from most carbon steels other than D2. So, O1, 1095 and 1084 top my list.

I tend to enjoy working with stainless.

I think I could live with nothing but AEBL. It's very easy to sharpen and holds an edge well. My customers love it.

I still like to use 440C and CPM154 in some cases.
 
CDHumiston said:
I've been staying away from most carbon steels other than D2. So, O1, 1095 and 1084 top my list.

I tend to enjoy working with stainless.

I think I could live with nothing but AEBL. It's very easy to sharpen and holds an edge well. My customers love it.

I still like to use 440C and CPM154 in some cases.
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AEB-L . I wanted nothing to do with stainless steels in fixed blades , until trying AEB-L. That stuff is incredible. Cuts like Carbon steel, sharpens like Carbon steel, tough as good carbon steel - yet stainless. AEB-L is great stuff.
 
If I'm not buying a machete or sword, then any 1075, 1060, 1055 and others are off the list.

Then, chinese 8Crxxxx, 7Crxxxx, 5Crxxxx and other crappy steels.

Also glorious mention to Cold Steel's 4034 that I had displeasure to personally use. My friend has 4034 Outdoorsman lite, and is claiming for it to be the worst knife he has. I went at his place when they were slaughtering chickens and I used it to gut some...
Only thing impressive about it is how quickly it lost it's edge. Also, every part of the edge that touches the bone will instantly reflect light 🤣🤣🤣
 
I had a Chinese made HK about 8.5 years ago. It was used daily on job sites. Opening cement bags, cutting zip ties, breaking down boxes and cutting tape. I literally had to sharpen it 2 times per shift. I liked the knife enough to keep it in my pocket for about 3 months. I didn’t cry the day I accidentally left it at a Clients house. I believe it was 8crmov13 or whatever that stuff is called. I’ve had $10 M tech gas station knives that held a better edge. Maybe it was a faulty model ? Either way - never again. That knife would dull after cutting once through a banker box. Terrible.
 
EatingSarma said:
Also glorious mention to Cold Steel's 4034 that I had displeasure to personally use. My friend has 4034 Outdoorsman lite, and is claiming for it to be the worst knife he has. I went at his place when they were slaughtering chickens and I used it to gut some...
Only thing impressive about it is how quickly it lost it's edge. Also, every part of the edge that touches the bone will instantly reflect light 🤣🤣🤣
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I never understood their decision to switch on that junk.

Especially on models that are iconic for CS. And to charge almost 200€ for Warcraft Tanto in 4034 and even more for Kukris 😂
I remember that 3V Warcraft had the same price as 4034 now, and 3V versions of Kukris, Trail Master and Recon Scout are so expensive that you can go custom on that price point.

I paid my AK-47 Field knife in 3V a lot less than what they now charge for some 4034...
 
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LostCause said:
I never understood their decision to switch on that junk.

Especially on models that are iconic for CS. And to charge almost 200€ for Warcraft Tanto in 4034 and even more for Kukris 😂
I remember that 3V Warcraft had the same price as 4034 now, and 3V versions of Kukris, Trail Master and Recon Scout are so expensive that you can go custom on that price point.

I paid my AK-47 Field knife in 3V a lot less than what they now charge for some 4034...
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4034 reminds me of chromolly for BMX bikes lol. Not for knives.

For me I can't stand the 4116. It's awful.
 
LostCause said:
Never tried 4116 but I believe it could be similar to 4034
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I haven't used the 4034. But from what I hear it's terrible.

It's a shame that cold steel went that route with a poor steel choice. Hell I can't believe I'm going to say this but AUS8 is better than both. And I only used AUS8 once on a rajah III, I wasn't a fan but it was still useful.
 
I'll likely get some hate for this, but I won't buy anything with D2. It's not great at anything. It holds a decent edge but isn't tough. It has decent corrosion resistance but isn't stainless. It has large carbides and is hard to sharpen for the edge retention you get. I prefer 14c28n for a budget steel, or really anything else. I know some people love it but it's a no-go for me.
 
420HC. Never again. Dull with each use pretty much. Also don't like Aus 8 much or any of the real cheap Chinese steels.

154CM I'm ok with. I'm good with anything VG10, D2, or higher on knifesteelnerds edge retention chart.

I think the sweet spot for me will end up being HAP40, M390/20CV. Love HAP40 so far. Have not tried CPM-M4 and first S30V knife arrives today.

Would like to try k390, S110v, s90v, zdp-189 but it's not a big priority. Perhaps when prices come down they will be a better value for my preferences. Plus I'm not sure how much I will like them until I try to sharpen one. Maxamet in same category of "would like to try someday but not a priority for me".
 
EatingSarma said:
Is that Cold Steel too?
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Yes, the Cold Stell Kudu, their version of the Okapi, features 5cr15mov steel... who knows why? Why would you buy a batch of Chinese steel for one pocket knife?!
I have one because I enjoyed the style, lock, 4" clip point, but gee... with that steel, it might be better marketed as a robbin' knife like it is traditionally.
 
Bob Denman said:
I've got a pair of Manix 2s with that steel. I've had ZERO problems with them! 👍
It holds an edge for almost TOO long!
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Yep. My experience with it is the same. It takes a long time to sharpen compared to many knife steels because it is so wear resistant. With good heat treats ( I have Spyderco and a Phil Wilson custom) it can do some amazing things. With a poor heat, too much austenite or whatever they call it the issues can arise but I have none of them in my good knives. I had another companies version of it and the burrs were a PITA and felt rubbery. It is another modern steel that would not exist in knives without the powder process.

I don't dislike too many steels but there are some I don't have any plans to buy more of. 440C is one. For it's level of wear resistance it has lousy toughness and "edge stability". I like several steels that do what it does but a bit better. CPM 154 is one. For me better yet would be the 3V/Cruwear/4V class. Enough corrosion resistance ( not nearly as good as a high quality 440C), but way better at the things I value. They can go way better geometry wise while keeping tough enough and strong enough on the edge to stay intact worlds better than 440C yet they have as good to better wear resistance.

I was not that big on real high carbide steels but in the last few years 10V, Maxamet and especially K390 have impressed me . They are amazing cutters and slicers and though on a graph their numbers look low toughness wise they have held up better than I ever thought they would with thin edges/low angles. Sometimes we have to push through our pre -conceived ideas and try things out.
 
Hashishiin said:
Yes, the Cold Stell Kudu, their version of the Okapi, features 5cr15mov steel... who knows why? Why would you buy a batch of Chinese steel for one pocket knife?!
I have one because I enjoyed the style, lock, 4" clip point, but gee... with that steel, it might be better marketed as a robbin' knife like it is traditionally.
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"robbin' knife" Word! Mine is in the garden, digging up weeds and stuff like that. It's kept in the junk draw for the wife because she thinks every knife is a screwdriver/prybar/scrapper tool.
 
There isn't really any that I have had and thought the steel is terrible there has been cases where Brand X treated a steel in a way that made it less ideal for me or finding a steel regardless of brand that just doesn't suit me.

D2 is one where different treatments have different experiences so I am more cautious about getting D2 knives and then any Carbon steel is one I avoid because I don't want to deal with the added maintenance.

I also avoid all the Chinese steels but again it isn't so much the steel it is a general avoidance of as much made in China as I can in my life on the whole.

Lastly there are some steels I have never really bought but I know that for the typical price point they are found you can expect a sub optimal experience with it. But when a reputable brand uses it with a reputation of using it right I won't shy from that.
 
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