Top 3 Steels

Wowbagger said:
You certainly get the award for widest spread of alloys. All the way from "only sharpenable on diamonds" to "playdough".
Click to expand...
LOL
Sharpening is not surch an issue on my Spyderoc sharpmaker, it can require more time or different stones but I manage to go through it :)

But I have to admit that I use my knives at very different things and I like steels depending on how they perform (for me).
 
154CM/CPM154 both superb all purpose steel.
BD-1/Gin-1(G2) another great performer.
AUS-8A was once the premium steel from Japan.
 
My top 3 steels

154cm
D2
14c28n

I have other knives in different steels but these 3 are my favorites. Nothing special, but they do the job I need them to.
 
INFI (with honorable mention to 3V, S7 and SR77)
Vanax (with honorable mention to M390 and Elmax)
CPM-10V
 
Trying new steels is a driving force in my purchasing decisions. At this point I have dozens of different steels. While I am a steel geek, I am not a steel snob. From 1095 to Maxamet and everything in between I honestly like pretty much all of them.

I agree that it really depends on the application. If I exclude kitchen knives and outdoor fixed blades and focus on folders then I pick these three.

Cruwear
K390
Maxamet

I am a big fan of M4 too. :)
 
I haven't read through the whole thread, so this may have been mentioned.

But steeltype just isn't that important.

Of course some perform better than others, and I too am partial to certain steel types.

Give me SR 101 and I am happy
O1 tool steel is good steel
Trying out S35VN soon, when Adventure Sworn delivers my Mountaineer.

The biggest driving factor in all the steeltypes offered, is marketing from the manufacturers.
Manufactures pushing new steeltypes out on the market and claiming it is better and better, had led some to believe that steels like 440C or 1095 are poor steeltypes.

Fortunately many are able to see through it, and know that you will be fine owning a 440C blade.
 
VG-10 has become my favorite steel. Yes, I know there are now plenty of other steels with better edge retention, but VG-10 is so balanced. Keeps an edge pretty well, is corrosion resistant, and is also very easy to sharpen. The definition of a balanced steel.

Next for me is S30V. Maybe not a "super" steel anymore, but also quite balanced with excellent edge retention and not too hard to sharpen.

Finally, these days I am digging ZDP-189. My Dragonfly with this steel is amazing. But I am very careful not to get it dull, because I have heard it is a bitch to sharpen. I touch it up on the sharpmaker in between uses, and it stays really sharp.

But bottom line, VG-10 is my favorite by far.
 
Dang, no mention to vanadis4E, it was my first superstell and i must say this steel is the thoughest and the most wear resistant i've ever had sont far.

From what i know i would say m390 for folding knives, easy to sharpen and sharp forever, plus stainless !
Elmax is pretty much the same steel with less WR but more thoughness.

And vanadis4E is my best one for fixed blades, took me 15 minutes to sharpen to 6000 grit then mirror polished...
 
Well I can jave M390 heat treated in 3 different ways and have it function in 3 different methods of application, does that count? ;)

I would say Nitrobe 77, RWL34, M390. k490/M4 and maxamet for curve balls in folders.
 
Woods knives and fixed blades:
CPM3V or Elmax depending on the application and design of the knife. Sometimes the improved rust resistance of Elmax is better. Sometimes I prefer the edge quality of one steel over the other. Sometimes I prefer the slight durability improvement of 3V. In the real world these two steels are extremely similar in qualities and applications and both are TOP choices for fixed blades and woods knives. The subtle differences make me sway one way or the other depending on the exact knife and application but I’ve gotten to the point that I rarely look outside of these two steels for woods blades.

Folders/pocket knives:
Elmax

Kitchen:
AEBL because it takes a super fine edge more similar to simpl high carbon steels than most stainless steels but still offers some corrosion resistance and is easy to sharpen.
 
154CM, VG-10 and I guess a toss up between 440C and S30V. I'm not a steel snob and I don't use my knives to clear timber or cut through automobile sheet metal. If a blade can take a good edge and can be sharpened fairly quickly, I'm good with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top