The super steel rat race

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How it looks and feels. :rolleyes: Since when did that make a difference in real cutting performance??? It sounds like a lot of people are accessorizing with their knives like they are jewelry or building an outfit to wear. 😆

Okay I can understand if it’s a collector displaying their knives or if they are just cutting the occasional thread on a garment or opening mail in a clean domestic environment . But knives are tools and if you are working with tough materials out in the rough or in the shop it’s a bit more demanding but if you really like to sharpen your knife several times a day then have at it. I used to think that but I learned there’s a better way using a better knife with better steel. For me it’s got to hold an edge cutting tough dirty materials in a dirty environment with occasional corrosive residue on those materials. And I don’t want to stop in the middle of a job that needs to be done now to sharpen a lousy dull blade. It needs to stay sharp all day at least till I’m home with free time and many of my better knives will go a week or two in heavy work before I need to touch them up a bit. Thats how I judge the difference in knife steels.
 
Lesknife said:
How it looks and feels. :rolleyes: Since when did that make a difference in real cutting performance??? It sounds like a lot of people are accessorizing with their knives like they are jewelry or building an outfit to wear. 😆

Okay I can understand if it’s a collector displaying their knives or if they are just cutting the occasional thread on a garment or opening mail in a clean domestic environment . But knives are tools and if you are working with tough materials out in the rough or in the shop it’s a bit more demanding but if you really like to sharpen your knife several times a day then have at it. I used to think that but I learned there’s a better way using a better knife with better steel. For me it’s got to hold an edge cutting tough dirty materials in a dirty environment with occasional corrosive residue on those materials. And I don’t want to stop in the middle of a job that needs to be done now to sharpen a lousy dull blade. It needs to stay sharp all day at least till I’m home with free time and many of my better knives will go a week or two in heavy work before I need to touch them up a bit. Thats how I judge the difference in knife steels.
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So when you buy a knife you just close your eyes and say I want that one or maybe eenie minie moe?

I suppose you would be ok with a blade attached to a brick as long as it cuts through muck long enough.

Aesthetic and feel are important to me but not the end all be all of course. There’s plenty of factors in picking a knife and everyone weighs those factors differently.

If its just about cutting performance, we were using some sharp rocks for thousands of years, maybe you should get ya some of those, with ya eyes closed of course 😉
 
mitchnola said:
So when you buy a knife you just close your eyes and say I want that one or maybe eenie minie moe?

I suppose you would be ok with a blade attached to a brick as long as it cuts through muck long enough.

Aesthetic and feel are important to me but not the end all be all of course. There’s plenty of factors in picking a knife and everyone weighs those factors differently.

If its just about cutting performance, we were using some sharp rocks for thousands of years, maybe you should get ya some of those, with ya eyes closed of course 😉
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The thread is about the blade steel super steel rat race not the aesthetics of the whole knife. How can you tell by looking at or feeling the blade steel to know how it will perform? The geometry and grinds can have an effect but that can be adjusted to suit the type of use. That’s why these kinds of threads are so unproductive because other criteria gets tossed into the mix rather than staying on topic.
 
Lesknife said:
The thread is about the blade steel super steel rat race not the aesthetics of the whole knife. How can you tell by looking at or feeling the blade steel to know how it will perform? The geometry and grinds can have an effect but that can be adjusted to suit the type of use. That’s why these kinds of threads are so unproductive because other criteria gets tossed into the mix rather than staying on topic.
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As the op, maybe you should read the opening post. It was exactly about purchasing knives based on other criteria than what steel you’re getting with the knife.

You were also condescending to those that do appreciate the aesthetics of a knife and feel of a knife. How ergonomics isn’t important to someone using it as a tool to cut through muck all day is also baffling.

And if these threads are so unproductive, why exactly are you wasting your time?
 
mitchnola said:
As the op, maybe you should read the opening post. It was exactly about purchasing knives based on other criteria than what steel you’re getting with the knife.

You were also condescending to those that do appreciate the aesthetics of a knife and feel of a knife. How ergonomics isn’t important to someone using it as a tool to cut through muck all day is also baffling.

And if these threads are so unproductive, why exactly are you wasting your time?
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You’re probably distracted by the aesthetics and other aspects to appreciate the benefits of a premium or super steel. I think it’s laughable when someone tries to say the lesser steels are every bit as good as the super steel class when it’s so obvious they aren’t.
 
Lesknife said:
You’re probably distracted by the aesthetics and other aspects to appreciate the benefits of a premium or super steel. I think it’s laughable when someone tries to say the lesser steels are every bit as good as the super steel class when it’s so obvious they aren’t.
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The whole thread was started because I just don’t keep up with the rat race. Others do, and others don’t and its all good. Some threads are so people can discuss there opinions and learn from others opinions. If the steel you’re getting in a knife is all that matters to you then that’s fine and only your opinion.

Again, if you read more you would know that I certainly do appreciate super steels but it’s gotten to the point that there’s so many of them I no longer keep up with it. I buy quality knives so I know they’re going to have a good steel.

I probably have one of just about every super steel out there not because I seek them out but just cause I have too many knives. Vg 10 is probably the lowest steel I have which was also a super steel at one time.

For you to think appreciating the aesthetics and other qualities of knife means you can’t also appreciate the steel is ridiculous. Just as ridiculous that you yourself don’t purchase knives that you also find visually appealing or for design, lock types and probably a bunch of other characteristics other than just steel.

Btw, others have said they still like or prefer older, lesser steels but I can garuntee, no one in this thread has tried to argue they’re better.

Try a little more reading and less typing
 
I enjoy all types of steels, and there are times that their attributes are palpable.

Some alloys will allow a significant increase in edge holding, but at the expense of brittleness.

Others are highly corrosion proof.

Some can handle abuse and still resist edge deformation.

The attributes run the gamut of performance and compromises.

I think the term super-steel in itself is sort of silly.

420hc is super at corrosion resistance, but not great at edge holding.

K390 is great at edge holding but corrodes easily.

They are all super in my book.
 
JWright214 said:
I never said that any steel choice I make is based on performance or a particular need. As a matter of fact, I stated that I had newer/nicer/better steels but I still use the basic steels more often. I stated that the majority of my use is 1095 and 420hc, with s30v also being thrown in there. I just didn’t articulate that s30v is not a basic low alloy steel and that it’s probably the third most used, behind the others I listed.

I am fully aware of the differences between the different alloys, how to apply/pair them with the best use, ie k390 will be better for cardboard than 1095. Nothing I said had anything to do with one steel being better than the other, it had to do with my usage and preference. I said preference, not performance, and I never said I that I don’t use the fancier steels, I just don’t use them as often.

The reason I choose to use these steels over the more modern steels that I own is simple. It’s because I like them, have familiarity with them, and they still work, despite there being better options… Oh yeah, and because I can. As long as I’m the one buying my knives, I’ll choose what I want to use.
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That's how I feel.

I can't tell if a coupla' guys showed-up here yesterday to actually engage in the fun conversation/exchange and contribute something, or just to show the rest of us how smart they are.



*Then again, I'm a pragmatic guy. I use quite a few of my fixies for more than just opening the shipping boxes on my new CRK/Benchmade/CPK/Spyderco/etc., and (*other than for research) don't put a whole lot of stock in internet graphs. Your mileage may vary.
 
Alone said:
When it comes to robust fixies, I've used a buttload of A2 and O1...and love both of 'em.

However, if you don't fall madly in love with 3V, I'd seriously be shocked.
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Cool. I’m keen. Just have to find the right mix of handle material and grind
 
Alone said:
That's how I feel.

I can't tell if a coupla' guys showed-up here yesterday to actually engage in the fun conversation/exchange and contribute something, or just to show the rest of us how smart they are.



*Then again, I'm a pragmatic guy. I use quite a few of my fixies for more than just opening the shipping boxes on my new CRK/Benchmade/CPK/Spyderco/etc., and (*other than for research) don't put a whole lot of stock in internet graphs. Your mileage may vary.
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I 100% agree.
 
K.O.D. said:
"No disintegrations!"
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