"Super Steels" for Knife Blades?

[chemistguy]

Well what are our criteria for a super steel? High-ish HRC (somewhere between about 58 and 72), while not chipping or shattering if abused. That would be epic. The problem is that things like CPM REX 121 and other high alloy steels and high speed steels are not designed for impact or twisting. They are designed to be used as lathe and mill cutting tools and as drill bits. I think that the higher the alloy and carbon (or nitrogen) content, and the higher the HRC, the more brittle the steel gets. But it also increases edge retention and resistance to wear. So if you want a survival blade, go with an ESEE-4 made out of 1095. If you want a folder that you'll never whack hard on anything or pry with, then go balls out and get something insane like the Farid K2 in CPM REX 121 (or in D3). But what would be between those two seemingly extreme options, that could satisfy any purpose? Maybe there isn't any really great option for that. Also, another factor might be cost... an ESEE-4 costs around 100 bucks, but the "super steel" stuff like Farid's K2 in CPM REX 121 costs something like $850, which for almost anyone is impossible to justify buying. Also, I have yet to see any folder that I would bet my life on for battoning or other survival tasks. No frame lock will ever live up to a full width full length tang in a fixed blade.

 

[james terrio]

Well what are our criteria for a super steel? High-ish HRC (somewhere between about 58 and 72), while not chipping or shattering if abused. That would be epic.

If 62Rc and very good toughness with a modicum of corrosion-resistance fits your range, my nominee is CPM-3V for pretty much any style of knife.

 

[goodeyesniper]

Am I the only one who thinks ZDP189 seems way overshadowed by modern "super steels" even if it offers similar, or possibly even better, attributes of some super steels? It seems you barely hear talk of it besides the guys who really love it in the few Spyderco models that have it. Is it one of those Japanese only steels that they won't sell outside of the country so only Japanese manufacturers can use it?