Steels you wish manufacturers used more often for blades

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TheEdge01

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Apr 3, 2015
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Are there steels you wish more manufacturers used in their knife blades? I would love to see companies like Benchmade use more carbon steels. Benchmade has a very limited number of carbon steel blades in their lineup. It would be cool if they adopted steels like A2 or O1 to use on a regular basis. What do you guys think?
 
TheEdge01 said:
Are there steels you wish more manufacturers used in their knife blades? I would love to see companies like Benchmade use more carbon steels. Benchmade has a very limited number of carbon steel blades in their lineup. It would be cool if they adopted steels like A2 or O1 to use on a regular basis. What do you guys think?
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Unless someone in marketing can spin A2 and O1 into some hot new "sexy" supersteel, it ain't gonna happen.

Though I happen to like both steels, as well as carbon steels in general, a great deal.

But A2 and O1 don't sell knives.
 
TheEdge01 said:
Are there steels you wish more manufacturers used in their knife blades? I would love to see companies like Benchmade use more carbon steels. Benchmade has a very limited number of carbon steel blades in their lineup. It would be cool if they adopted steels like A2 or O1 to use on a regular basis. What do you guys think?
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I was kinda surprised to see all the D2 folders that happened , so who knows ? But D2 is almost stainless . So much of what get's made is marketing , bling and fad driven . I've been very impressed with my CS Trail Master's toughness in 01 .
 
CruWear and CTS-XHP would be a great change up from the S30V's and S35VN. Heck, I think I'd take CruWear on just about every size of knife, same with XHP. Fixed, folders, doesn't matter. Gimme CruWear and XHP please.

I should add that I love M390, but it's actually becoming insanely popular so I don't really have to look too far to find some of it. Which is most definitely not a bad thing.
 
I just received a mailer, a pretty good sized magazine, and it had a few nice knives in it. Along with the very few but notable decent knives were page after page of knives priced from $10 to $30. I'd probably buy what I could if they came in better steel, but there is no way I am going to be moved to purchase something that is little better than tin.

Today's premium steels are without a doubt tomorrows garbage steels. Nonetheless, I'd like to see more affordable options move up to S35VN...give the designer a fighting chance! Heck I might even buy a few in S35VN! There are some very nice designs but in alphabet soup steel....no way.

For the top end fixed and folders I's love to see far more M4, M390, 20CV and 204P all heat treated to their maximum potential. I figure that if I am going to buy, I may as well splurge on myself.
 
Cruwear, LC200N, 52100, Super Blue.
Rex45 seems really promising.

Honestly a few of my favorite steels are seeing more use though.

S35VN (can totally replace S30V for all I care)
CTS-XHP
20CV

I still think it is funny how the market is. Basically all the new "super" steels are steels that have been around for a long time already, or are just an old composition renewed with more modern technology behind it i.e. powdered metallurgy. While it is fun trying new steels, I still don't mind simple stuff like Super Blue, 52100, 154CM, INFI. I prefer lower carbide steels really.
 
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TheEdge01 said:
Are there steels you wish more manufacturers used in their knife blades? I would love to see companies like Benchmade use more carbon steels. Benchmade has a very limited number of carbon steel blades in their lineup. It would be cool if they adopted steels like A2 or O1 to use on a regular basis. What do you guys think?
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I'm happy with spyderco. They offer so many options.
Benchmades have M4, 20cv and m390 which are very good offerings.
Don't really want to pay the butterfly tax for carbon steels and there are many options available otherwise.

Would like to see vanax superclean and or nitrobe77 now.
 
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marcinek said:
Unless someone in marketing can spin A2 and O1 into some hot new "sexy" supersteel, it ain't gonna happen.

Though I happen to like both steels, as well as carbon steels in general, a great deal.

But A2 and O1 don't sell knives.
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I agree, it wouldn’t be a huge seller like M4 or D2 but I would still love to see it happen even if it was in a sprint run.
 
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