Wanting to know a bit more about high carbon steels. Help please.

[xX_Blade_Xx]

I am familiar with 1095 and 1055 carbon steel. I am absolutely hooked on a knife and think it will be my next purchase. The blade is SK-5 carbon steel. The only other knife i am considering purchasing is made of O-1 carbon steel. I know nothing about these two steels so if you guys could tell me about them i would appreciate it. Use 1095 and 1055 carbon steel for a frame of reference if you'd like. A few specific questions are,

would i be able to have these knives in salt water if i cared for them later? Like using oil and such.

Are they difficult to sharpen compared to 1055 and 1095 steel?

what kind of edge do these steels tend to have? Razor sharp with crappy edge retention? Amazing edge retention? Etc.

thanks in advance guys.

 

[GatorFlash1]

Here is a link to some great info about knife steels. It is worth printing out for future reference. It was written by my knife guru, Mr. Joe Talmadge, a Master Bladesmith.

http://www.zknives.com/knives/articles/knifesteelfaq.shtml

 

[Cereal_killer]

That's an informative link, thank you or sharing.

 

[GatorFlash1]

Thanks. I think the most important thing Joe Talmadge says is that a good/great knife is a combination of things, steel being one. How that steel is used and tempered can also make a big difference in how the knife performs. Just because it is a certain type of steel doesn't mean the knife maker has gotten the best from that steel. However, usually if a knife make is paying for the better steel he probably knows how to treat it to get the best from the blade.

 

[xX_Blade_Xx]

Great link! Saving that for sure.

 

[coli]

Yes good information for sure. I don't know much about steels so its good to learn the process

 

[sinnyc]

Here is a link to some great info about knife steels. It is worth printing out for future reference. It was written by my knife guru, Mr. Joe Talmadge, a Master Bladesmith.

http://www.zknives.com/knives/articles/knifesteelfaq.shtml

Prior to reading this post, the link with the most consolidated info I had found was this Wikipedia page which doesn't have much in the way of detailed explanations. Your link is great - thank you.