The Most Popular Steel on BF

[Dean51]

In the thread "What blade steel did you carry today?" I took a very scientific count to discover what members consider the steel.
It's M390 and considering CPM 20CV is almost the same it was a land slide victory for the two, for the title of most popular steel on BF. Someday someone might ask and now you will know.


M390 - 27
S30v - 20
CPM M4 - 20
CPM S35vn - 19
x55CrMo14 - 17 or 1.4110 SAK
D2 - 16
1095 - 15
CTS-XHP - 12
CPM 20CV - 12
420HC - 10
154cm - 10
CPM S90v - 8
CV - 7 Mystery
VG-10 - 7
CPM 3V - 6
Elmax - 6
VG-10 - 5
Mystery steel - 5
REX 45 - 5
S110v - 4
N690 - 4
52100 - 4
AUS-8 - 4
H1 - 4
LC200N - 4
ZDP-189 - 4
CTS-204P -3
A2 - 3
440C - 2
Maxamet - 2
Lam CoS - 2
8Cr13MoV - 2
420j2 - 2
8CR13MOV - 2
HAP40 - 2
niolox - 2
V-Toku2 - 2
SR 101 - 2
CPM 154 - 2
CruWear - 2
12C27 2 - Sandvik
n690co - 1
14c28n - 1
CTS BD1 - 1
Infi - 1
BG 42 - 1
CPM 4V - 1
CPM-S125v - 1
CPM 10v - 1
CPM 4V - 1
CRU-Wear - 1
D3V - 1
80CrV2 - 1
13c26 - 1
BDZ-1 - 1
1070 - 1
Damasteel - 1
5160 - 1
80CrV2 - 1
C70 - 1

 

[Jocephus1]

If you did another “what steel are you carrying today” thread you’d probably get another different set of answers from the same folks that answered in the first thread.

This is blade forums after all. Lol

Edit. I was the BDZ1 guy...have S35 in my pocket now

 

[Dean51]

That would be to much data

 

[KooKooforKukripuffs]

I think Surgical Stainless is the most popular...

 

[John_0917]

I’m surprised that HAP40 is so low, circa 2016 most of the Spyderco bunch thought it was magical...almost as magical as cruwear!

Btw we know what steel King Arthur’s sword was made from...Cruwear...unless your a strider guy, then it’s PSF27...with tiger stripes...

 

[Tommy-Chi]

Pretty exciting times for knife blade steel. Engineering, metallurgy, and the art of knife making have taken off over the last 25 years.

I'm glad to be alive to see all the diversity and awesome steels!

 

[DeadboxHero]

People don't know what they don't know.

If they had the opportunity to play with a lot of steels

CPM Cruwear would be there favorite if they sharpen and like edge performance.

 

[JBoone]

I like different steels but have a hard time describing the alurure of different steels to non knife nuts.

The best I can say is it is part of the hobby. If you can sharpen it, you are good to go for folders in the steel of your choice IMHO.

 

[McFeeli]

It’s a tie between CruWear and M390 for me. Love ‘em both equally. Who needs any other steel? I really wish CruWear was more abundant, though.


I’d wager 1095 is actually the most carried steel on the forums. Lots of traditional guys and gals here. That’s not even counting all the fixed blades that use it(which is a lot).

 

[RBid]

I mentioned carrying M390 in multiple posts and 20CV in another, I believe. Is that a reference count, or did you track users?

 

[cbrstar]

I'm surprised there is no 3V on the list.

 

[DeadboxHero]

I'm surprised there is no 3V on the list.

EDC steel. Not many dudes rocking belt knives everyday.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I carried two pieces of 3v, one knife with abel, three with 1096, and three

I'm surprised there is no 3V on the list.

other steels I cant remember right now!!!

 

[Wowbagger]

edge performance.

So . . . where is blues bender . . . to say "what ever the hell that is".
Huh strangely quiet.
Cruwear.
You are right I don't know. I need to explore that one.

PS : Pattada N690co and Ladybug ZDP-189 used both.

 

[Mo2]

I was rocking some Sleipner steel recently. Lionsteel Tm1 in cf. Cut up alot of cardboard boxes with it.

 

[DeadboxHero]

So . . . where is blues bender . . . to say "what ever the hell that is".
Huh strangely quiet.
Cruwear.
You are right I don't know. I need to explore that one.

PS : Pattada N690 and Ladybug ZDP-189 used both.

edge performance- can rock a 15 dps and lower, does polish and toothy edges well, deburrs like a champion, hones back like a boss. Has good edge retention for the given alloy content.

n690 vs cruwear, n690 blunts faster and is more stubborn on the burr removal also less stable.
zdp vs cruwear, zdp can cut longer but is less stable, takes a little more time to make the same edge as cruwear and the cruwear edge is more durable.

 

[Wowbagger]

edge performance- can rock a 15 dps and lower, does polish and toothy edges well, deburrs like a champion, hones back like a boss. Has good edge retention for the given alloy content.

n690 vs cruwear, n690 blunts faster and is more stubborn on the burr removal also less stable.
zdp vs cruwear, zdp can cut longer but is less stable, takes a little more time to make the same edge as cruwear and the cruwear edge is more durable.

Oh . . . I was just saying what I was packing today. Not saying anything else. Thanks for the comparison though. I must say deburing the N690co on the Edge Pro with Shapton Glass was effortless. I just went through a four stone progression and there simply was no bur left. Can't beat that. Surprised the heck out of me; I was expecting a fight with a stainless steel foily bur.

can rock a 15 dps and lower,

Sounds good to me.
How does it compare to M4 for availability ?
Both pretty scarce right.
CruWear is mostly in customs ? Gee . . . would you happen to know any custom makers from which I could get a knife in CruWear ?
Money. I need more money.

 

[SpyderPhreak]

So . . . where is blues bender . . . to say "what ever the hell that is".
Huh strangely quiet.
Cruwear.
You are right I don't know. I need to explore that one.

PS : Pattada N690co and Ladybug ZDP-189 used both.

Wow, that's a bit trolly, dontcha think? @Blues Bender

Oh . . . I was just saying what I was packing today. Not saying anything else. Thanks for the comparison though. I must say deburing the N690co on the Edge Pro with Shapton Glass was effortless. I just went through a four stone progression and there simply was no bur left. Can't beat that. Surprised the heck out of me; I was expecting a fight with a stainless steel foily bur.


Sounds good to me.
How does it compare to M4 for availability ?
Both pretty scarce right.
CruWear is mostly in customs ? Gee . . . would you happen to know any custom makers from which I could get a knife in CruWear ?
Money. I need more money.

Here's some relatively inexpensive Cruwear for you...

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...-handles-paramilitary-3-knifecenter-exclusive

 

[Dean51]

I mentioned carrying M390 in multiple posts and 20CV in another, I believe. Is that a reference count, or did you track users?

I counted what was posted as carried that day and did dot track users. If a steel was mentioned in conversation I did not count it. If someone carried 3 ZDP 189 blades I only counted it as one steel.
The method wasn't perfect but I don't think a change in method would have altered the results much.

I know if it was posted in the traditional thread the results would be different. 1095 or CV would no doubt have been on the top of the list.
I was curious about this thread because this is where I would see more steel varieties.

Edit to add: 10 years from now as new steel becomes available and current new steel gains in popularity, I'm sure the results will change.