Top 3 Steels

A

AlphaDog86

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Mar 30, 2015
Messages
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I’ve found that blade steel has become a very important deciding factor in my recent knife purchases (along with a lot of other preferences:)). It was never really as important to me as I feel it is now. But I’ve gotten really picky over time. So for all you steel snobs out there:D what are your top 3? Mine are:

S110V
M390/20CV/204P
S35VN
 
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M390
CPM CruWear
Elmax(edit - or 3V don't judge)

I could survive on those three steels until the end of time. M390 is my favorite folder steel, low maintance and just all around great. CruWear would be best suited to some larger fixed blades, ones that I'd beat on. Plus it's wildly versatile. If you want it super hard with superior edge retention you can have it, or you can have it a bit softer and tough as nails(tougher, actually).

I could honestly live without Elmax or swap it for 3V or CTS-XHP but I really like the toughness it has, especially for a stainless. Ah.. Now I'm secondguessing myself by leaving XHP and 3V out, damn it! 3V has really blown me away, I never thought a steel could be as tough as it is.
 
It really depends on usage and what kind of knife it is.

If I'm cutting abrasive material K390 is king for me.

For general EDC use I actually really like steels like 14c28n and such, that take a nice edge very quickly and easily and hold it for plenty long enough.

For fixed blades 3V is just incredibly versatile, depending on the heat treat.

That said, I wouldn't want a boat or dive knife made out of any of the above, and for truck knives or loaners something budget friendly like 8cr13mov for folders or 1095 or 1075 is a great choice.

The more I learn about steel the more satisfaction I take from matching the right steel to the job, rather than spending the cash to get the latest and greatest. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
 
  1. 1095
  2. 420hc
  3. ??? S30V is cool, I have a new knife in 154CM that might be cool. Time will tell I guess.
In general I'd rather spend a little bit of time sharpening a little more often with a cheap/simple system over spending a potentially lot of time sharpening once in a blue moon on some 'specialized' system because I'm using some super hard, super abrasion resistent cru-max 390pmsv wonder steel.
 
Cruwear
Cruwear
Cruwear

Honorable mention:
52100
M4
20CV

Potential:
REX 45
 
XHP
Elmax
204p

S35VN is a close runner up, as it’s a respectable all-arounder.
My dirty secret is I like AUS-8 on thrasher knives because it’s stupid easy to restore & maintain.
 
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I can cover all of my needs with the following steels depending on the application(unless we are making a sword, then I might exchange the 3V for Cru Wear(up to 3ft in length)):

3V (up to 12 inches in length)
M390/20CV/204P (up to 6 inches in length)
1095 (up to 6 inches in length)
 
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I'm not a steel expert. I'm not a big user/abuser either. Cost is definitely a factor. When you say top 3 steels, to me those are the ones that I'll buy without hesitation. My top 3: VG-10 (or VG-1), S30V, 154cm. Honorable mention: 14c28n, AUS8.
 
AlphaDog86 said:
I’ve found that blade steel has become a very important deciding factor in my recent knife purchases (along with a lot of other preferences:)). It was never really as important to me as I feel it is now. But I’ve gotten really picky over time. So for all you steel snobs out there:D what are your top 3? Mine are:

S110V
M390/20CV/204P
S35VN
Click to expand...

I am becoming a steel snob. I still buy 1095 traditionals, but I am more and more finding normal steel will cause me to skip otherwise interesting knives. Put ebony and m390 together then you have my attention!

Just 3 ...
Folders
M390/20cv/204
S110v

Fixed
3v

But as Insipid said fitting the steel to the use is were it’s really at.
 
Ranked on the number of knives I own with different steels.Folders:
S35VN
M390
CPM154

Fixed blades:
10V
4V
M4
 
In small knives which is what I assume we're talking about

154cm or the powdered version
S35vn
52100

I don't want to be wowed by a blade I want to be able to shapen it and/or strop it quickly.
 
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