Tool Steel vs. ATS-34 Opinions Please

[Megalobyte]

Hi all. I see that many high-end knives use ATS34, even some very pricey customs, and yet, when i hear the words "tool steel", being used as blade material, it conjures visions and expectations of steel of exceptional quality and strength. So, anybody know the differences, ie. strength, rust resistance, and overall which is thought superior? I have heard that ATS34 is so called "bearing steel", true? Thanks.---Ari

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Actually, ATS-34 is a tool steel. There are many other tool steels used to make knives. Some are stainless, some are not. Examples are A2, D2, 420, 425, 440, 154CM and the CPM steels. Obviously some of these steels make better blades than others.

It is definitely not the case that tool steels are better than bearing steels for making knives. BG-42 and 52100 are examples of bearing steels that are excellent knife steels.

5160 is a spring steel and it is another great knife steel. So as you can see, steels used for many different purposes can be used to make knives.

 

[martin j]

ATS="alloy tool steel'