Top 5 favorite steels

M

monsterdog

Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
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First time poster here. Figured I would start by asking this question, to get an idea of what people are currently looking at, steel-wise.

What are your 5 favorite blade steels?

Why? :)

I am not looking for certain scenario type usages, whatever comes to mind is fine.

-MD
 
1. INFI - Best all-rounder I've encountered, great but exceedingly over-priced.

2. 154cm - Older but decent semi-stainless that holds a good edge, fairly durable.

3. 1095 - Tough as nails, problematic with rusting, but very bullet proof.

4. H1 - The stuff just does not seem to rust around a salt water environment.

5. Fehrman's steel - Strong, takes a keen edge, easy for me to sharpen in the field.
 
with S30V so prominent in the US market, It's all I buy anymore! The differences in makers HTs makes SUCH a huge difference, that steel is not the only issue to me. The steels I HAVE used, in order or appreciation would go like this:

Swamp Rat's SR101 (most perfect steel I've used)
Microtech's 154CM (I had an LCC and a Socom.. IMO BEST folder steel))
CRK's S30V ( I have a love/hate relation ship with this one...BL= WORTH IT.)
Benchmade's S30V (my favorite S30V knife)
CRKs BG42 (harder to sharpen, but worth it)
Spyderco's S30V (I have a Native and a UKPK..almost too soft, but easy to sharpen)
CRK's A2 (..had a Shadow III.. IMO edge retention was not good enough to justify difficulty of sharpening)
Strider's S30V (toooo hard... THE most difficult to sharpen knife I've owned)


I have had other knives that I really can't comment on just because I did not pay much attention... like a Benchmade Nimravus Cub, which was a BEATER beater... I used it for everything, and sharpened it when It got dull... Had a couple customs that only cut paper... I'm REALLY REALLY interested in trying out Benchmade's 154CM.. from reports I've heard, I think it will likely be a favorite.
 
For large blades-
-Forged and differentially tempered 5160
- Forged and differentially tempered L6
-Fehrman's CPM 3V
-Busse INFI

Smaller blades-

-Forged and differentially tempered 52100
-Forged and differentially tempered O1
-A2
-Swamprat's 52100
-50100-b
-1095

Stainless-

-CPM 154 CM
-VG 10
ALL THE BEST
 
Fixed-blades really aren't my thing, so this pertains to folders only....

S30V
VG10
440C
H-1
420HC
 
My choices:

VG-10: Stainless, strong, holds a wicked edge, and it's very durable. Spyderco uses it on almost all of their knives.
S90V: I recently got my CF military, and I went out a really went through some paper products, some wood chopping, some hair shaving, some food prep. After that, I hauled out my Lanksy to sharpen it up and damn near sliced my finger open. :) Excellent edge retention.
CPM 154CM: Overall great steel. Great edge holding, good finish, and a fine edge. Quite stainless too.
H1: Rust proof steel, used in the Spyderco Salt series of knives. Won't rust. At all. (There is a thread about this I think...)
AUS-8: Used in many of the CRKT knives. I wouldn't go as low as AUS-4/6, but AUS-8 holds a good edge, easy enough to resharpen, stainless, and very durable. Almost like a tool steel. It's edge doesn't chip or crack, it just tends to deform a bit.
 
I can't limit it to just 5. I know, I know...

CPM-10V, ZDP 189, D2, CPM M4, and M2 HSS, for edge holding.
INFI for all around and toughness.
52100, CPM 3V, SGPS, and O1 for ease of sharpening and edge holding.

Those are my favorites. Today. :D
 
CPM S30V
H1
CPM 3V
52100
1095

These are not listed in any particular order......... ;)
 
VG-10
VG-10
VG-10
VG-10
VG-10

After testing many custom and industrial knives at a show in Belgium (my country), the most incredible sharpest knife I see was a Fallkniven FI (VG-10)

;)
 
s30v- great edge retention and i can sharpen it fine
154cm- good edge retention, easy to sharpen, quite stainless
Sanvick 13c26(I think, its whatever is on the cyclone)- decent edge retention, takes great edge
vg10(tied with sanvick)- good edge retention takes great edge
D2- Holds an edge well, but is too hard to sharpen
 
Not in order:
CPM M4
M2
S90V
Vascowear
BG42
A2
ZDP 189
O-1
1084
S30V
super blue
12C, 13C sandavik steels
52100
Super Gold ( Kershaw and Falkniven)

I can keep going. I like them all pretty much. Joe
 
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