The Thread for the Steel that Doesn't Exist

S7

Imho for a “survival knife” there is really no need for stainless.

Unless/until there is a stainless that’s ACTUALLY as tough as high-carbon steels, (and I don’t believe there are any as of yet), then carbon wins due to superior DURABILITY.

While you’re in a survival situation, you will likely use the blade often enough that edge oxidation shouldn’t matter. Surface rust on the blade flats?? Who cares? Your blade is less likely to break, and that’s paramount.
 
scdub said:
S7

Imho for a “survival knife” there is really no need for stainless.

Unless/until there is a stainless that’s ACTUALLY as tough as high-carbon steels, (and I don’t believe there are any as of yet), then carbon wins due to superior DURABILITY.

While you’re in a survival situation, you will likely use the blade often enough that edge oxidation shouldn’t matter. Surface rust on the blade flats?? Who cares? Your blade is less likely to break, and that’s paramount.
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I'm still mildly irritated that Scrapyard doesn't stock S7 anymore.
 
A8(mod) is a good steel. Tougher but less wear resistant than 3V. Corrosion resistance is fairly close.

Cruwear is a little less tough than 3V but more wear resistant. Also similar with a bit more wear is 4V. Going up the wear resistance scale is CPM M4 hc ( we call it M4 here). There are some really excellent steels in this category and finding the right style / geometry / heat treat gives you an ability to get a knife nearly perfect for your needs and wants.

I'm completely convinced I will never be sharpening my knife on a river rock or coffee mug so I take that out of the equation. short of being kidnapped by aliens I have the ability to always have suitable sharpening tools available . I can sacrifice a couple square inches and a couple ounces to insure I have a decent diamond sharpener. I have free handed sharpened for 50 years and the thought of using a coffee mug makes me shudder. A river rock really doesn't seem much better.
 
TC said:
What, then, do you do if there is no river nearby? (Seriously though, I really don't see the point of going all out caveman EXCEPT for the ultra high end blade steel. 3V + pocket sharpener: done!)
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This is also a valid point, it's a lot easier to carry a diamond hone in your survival gear than it is to carry a whole river.
 
It seems like a lot of folks are thinking of sharpening a knife on a river stone. Very primordial.

I know for a fact that I will never leave on any trip without the right equipment. Like a full tank of gas for a long journey, I already have the car (Grail Knife), why would any of y'all not have the right gear? Does anybody ever go into the wilderness for a night with only a ferro rod? Of course we COULD, but it's 2022!

"Any fool can be uncomfortable"
 
The Mastiff said:
A8(mod) is a good steel. Tougher but less wear resistant than 3V. Corrosion resistance is fairly close.

Cruwear is a little less tough than 3V but more wear resistant. Also similar with a bit more wear is 4V. Going up the wear resistance scale is CPM M4 hc ( we call it M4 here). There are some really excellent steels in this category and finding the right style / geometry / heat treat gives you an ability to get a knife nearly perfect for your needs and wants.

I'm completely convinced I will never be sharpening my knife on a river rock or coffee mug so I take that out of the equation. short of being kidnapped by aliens I have the ability to always have suitable sharpening tools available . I can sacrifice a couple square inches and a couple ounces to insure I have a decent diamond sharpener. I have free handed sharpened for 50 years and the thought of using a coffee mug makes me shudder. A river rock really doesn't seem much better.
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TC said:
What, then, do you do if there is no river nearby? (Seriously though, I really don't see the point of going all out caveman EXCEPT for the ultra high end blade steel. 3V + pocket sharpener: done!)
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DocJD said:
Most people are probably not going to live long enough in an actual "survival" situation to dull any decent knife to the point of uselessness .

Not sure why you couldn't carry a compact diamond sharpener , if you know that's vital ?
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Yeah I mean it's a desirable trait in my mind in case I lose my DC4, but I agree that as long as you don't lose stuff for the most part who cares. On retrospect I suppose the best attributes of the steel in question is it might be cheaper because it would be easier to manufacture. Although I looked into Z-finnit and it's horrifyingly more expensive than 3V...but that might be because it's more rare as stock.
 
Here is what I have found with supposedly difficult to sharpen steels--don't let it get dull. Maintain the edge religiously, and you won't need diamond stones.

For those SHTF preppers, a more easy to sharpen in the field steel like 1095 is better but I don't subscribe to that. With medications and medical issues, I'll be among the first dead so there is little point so I'm happy touching up my M390 and CPM-S90V as needed. I'm not chopping firewood with a fixed blade. If I truly needed to, I have an ax and a hatchet.
 
Cold Steel's 4034SS (SS meaning SuperSteel, definitely not Stainless Steel or Surgical Stainless).

It's more stainless than 3V.
It's easier to sharpen than 3V.
It has the price of 3V so it must be as good as 3V.
It even has 83% of edge retention of 8Cr13MoV with the best HT that Cold Steel has came up with for ultimate hardness on a folder.
And the toughness, if there's ever an issue - just bend it back!
An amazing steel!

Cold Steel once one of the leaders in knife industry has been revamped after the takeover by GSM (Gas Station Merchandise) and is set to reach new heights.

Cold Steel will soon overthrow the Mtech, BudK and Frost cutlery, and establish themselves as the ultimate knife maker!
 
LostCause said:
Cold Steel's 4034SS (SS meaning SuperSteel, definitely not Stainless Steel or Surgical Stainless).

It's more stainless than 3V.
It's easier to sharpen than 3V.
It has the price of 3V so it must be as good as 3V.
It even has 83% of edge retention of 8Cr13MoV with the best HT that Cold Steel has came up with for ultimate hardness on a folder.
And the toughness, if there's ever an issue - just bend it back!
An amazing steel!

Cold Steel once one of the leaders in knife industry has been revamped after the takeover by GSM (Gas Station Merchandise) and is set to reach new heights.

Cold Steel will soon overthrow the Mtech, BudK and Frost cutlery, and establish themselves as the ultimate knife maker!
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83% of 8Cr wow! Sounds like a solid investment to bank the future of your company on! And at the price of 3V what a steal!!

Certainly doesn't sound like a reckless endeavour doomed to fail and destroy a brand.
 
IaccidentlyCutmyThumb said:
83% of 8Cr wow! Sounds like a solid investment to bank the future of your company on! And at the price of 3V what a steal!!

Certainly doesn't sound like a reckless endeavour doomed to fail and destroy a brand.
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Edge retention tests have confirmed it's only 17% worse than 8Cr13MoV!

3V is overpriced, it's not even stainless! And that's the most important feature a knife can have.

I'm telling you, GSM (Gas Station Merchandise) know what they're doing!
 
LostCause said:
Cold Steel's 4034SS (SS meaning SuperSteel, definitely not Stainless Steel or Surgical Stainless).

It's more stainless than 3V.
It's easier to sharpen than 3V.
It has the price of 3V so it must be as good as 3V.
It even has 83% of edge retention of 8Cr13MoV with the best HT that Cold Steel has came up with for ultimate hardness on a folder.
And the toughness, if there's ever an issue - just bend it back!
An amazing steel!

Cold Steel once one of the leaders in knife industry has been revamped after the takeover by GSM (Gas Station Merchandise) and is set to reach new heights.

Cold Steel will soon overthrow the Mtech, BudK and Frost cutlery, and establish themselves as the ultimate knife maker!
Click to expand...
I'm glad I went on a splurge at the beginning of the year of older Cold Steel knives, before I had to see a Recon 1 or AD-10 made out of this pot metal! GSM looks like they're taking some established brands for a real drag in a race to the bottom to compete with Gerber's line of not very good knives. 4034 steel is used a lot for divers, who are mostly using a knife as weight to dial in to just the right buoyancy for their diving kit. Personally, I can well imagine any knife made from this steel having a great future at the bottom of the ocean.
 
The Grendels said:
I'm glad I went on a splurge at the beginning of the year of older Cold Steel knives, before I had to see a Recon 1 or AD-10 made out of this pot metal! GSM looks like they're taking some established brands for a real drag in a race to the bottom to compete with Gerber's line of not very good knives. 4034 steel is used a lot for divers, who are mostly using a knife as weight to dial in to just the right buoyancy for their diving kit. Personally, I can well imagine any knife made from this steel having a great future at the bottom of the ocean.
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When knock-off is made out of better steel than the original...
 
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