What is considered they most "exotic" super steel out there?

I didn't see it mentioned but back in the 80s there was an alloy called Vasco Wear which the master smiths were forging. The stuff was supposed to be a bear to work with and required a heat treat recipe that is a lot easier to duplicate with today's ovens. It was also hard to sharpen because it was so hard but it held an edge forever. IIRC the biggest problem was production Costello because it was so difficult to work.

Now unless you can find a scrap piece or a supplier that has a forgotten piece buried in back on a shelf somewhere. There's still hope though in Cru Wear which is similar.

Typical Chemistry of CM Cru Wear

Carbon 1.10%
Manganese 0.35%
Silicon 1.10%
Chromium 7.50%
Vanadium 2.40%
Tungsten 1.15%
Molybdenum 1.60%


Typical Chemistry of Vasco Wear (discontinued)
Carbon 1.12%
Manganese 0.3%
Silicon 1.2%
Chromium 7.75%
Vanadium 2.40%
Molybdenum 1.60%

Unfortunately the grail steels cost more because they're substantially harder to work. Now with makers like Nathan Carothers from CPK starts machining blades outta the tougher steels and continues to prove this as a valid method to make knives I think the other manufacturers will follow suit. Wgo remember when BG42 was the end all be all? it was just too expensive to make a profit using these steels. Sadly this will be the trend for the foreseeable future.

Here's a short list with the exotics at the top. (YMMV)

RARE SUPER STEELS


Vanax 75
REX 121
CPM – S110V

COMMON SUPER STEELS


CPM – S90V
CPM – M4
CTS – 20CP
CTS – 204P
M390

ABOVE-AVERAGE PREMIUM STEELS


ZDP 189
CTS – XHP
Hitachi Super Blue

AVERAGE PREMIUM STEELS


CPM – S30V
VG-1
D2
Elmax
N690
154CM
ATS – 34

AVERAGE STEELS


420HC
8Cr13MoV
13C26N
440C
14C28N
 
Nice post, T. Erdelyi :)

The world of knives combines right in with being a metal/material dweeb. Blades by nature push metals to their utmost limits, which is endlessly interesting when they're hand-held tools.

T. Erdelyi said:
I didn't see it mentioned but back in the 80s there was an alloy called Vasco Wear which the master smiths were forging. The stuff was supposed to be a bear to work with and required a heat treat recipe that is a lot easier to duplicate with today's ovens. It was also hard to sharpen because it was so hard but it held an edge forever. IIRC the biggest problem was production Costello because it was so difficult to work.
...

Unfortunately the grail steels cost more because they're substantially harder to work. Now with makers like Nathan Carothers from CPK starts machining blades outta the tougher steels and continues to prove this as a valid method to make knives I think the other manufacturers will follow suit. Wgo remember when BG42 was the end all be all? it was just too expensive to make a profit using these steels. Sadly this will be the trend for the foreseeable future.

...
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That's when your custom makers start using some godforsaken difficult material and whatever tools they can to make a crazy knife that doesn't make economical sense! :D
 
Beryllium Copper, our EOD guys and Deep Sea Divers use it, since it is non sparking. Other than that and corrosion resistance there are no performance advantages over even the more common knife steels on the market.

I hear people ask about Titanium and ceramic as well, same issues. ceramic holds an edge for a long time, but is very easy to chip and break (Zero Point produces the small folders that we used to issue, but the same problem persists with just about all of them). Beta Ti alloy works for a decent knife , but is still not on par with most of the steels in the "above average group" above.

I have worked with and used a few pieces of Stellite 6K and it does actually hold it's edge for a long time, but it is still outperformed in other areas by most super steels. The material is soft but difficult to work. The carbides make it a bear to work with.
 
Let's define what super steel is first.

Currently super steel is defined as powder steel in general.

S30v to maxamet and everything in between (I just named these two for an example).

The best steel would be something easy to sharpen that's got good impact resistance (resistance to chipping) and edge retention. Good is relative because you got s90v which is amazing for edge retention but then you got maxamet which Is like s90v on roids in edge retention (both don't have the greatest toughness). 3v is super in that it's got amazing impact resistance.

So which ones the best overall?
Sofar ever one is just naming off steel randomly. Because there are lots of super steel available. But which ones the best? Per the thread title?

Op kind of needs to say more tho, best in what. Because mentioned, early on... You can't have a single best steel as they all are different with different purposes and different compositions not to mention you can heat treat a steel to be more focused on edge retention vs hardness for different characteristics. And on top of that the makers geometry for the task at hand. Costs, working with the steel at the mfg, and other variables also play a roll. If it's to hard to work with but is the best steel ever... No one's going to make or buy it, how's that the best then?

I will forever hate "best" topics because of all the variables that are often overlooked.
 
The main advantage of CPM-S125V steel for knives is its durability and wear resistance. This steel is very high in its carbon content, in addition to large percentages of chromium and vanadium.. HRc values range from 61-65.
It is very difficult to machine this steel into blade material. The cost of finished S125V is therefore quite high, compared to nearly all of the other "more common" super-steels. However, many knife-fans will be willing to go after this one...
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
Maxamet I'd say. It's just a beast of a metal. Most makers won't even consider it because of the added production costs.

Some if the Japanese super steels would also qualify I'd imagine as they're rarely exported.
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Maxemet for sure, where do you even find that stuff?
 
I stay out of the whole steel conversation because it's way over my head, but I have always been curious why tungsten carbide isn't used (in anything I know of at least). All of my wood working cutting surfaces, except chisels utilize TC. I know it's not easy to sharpen and it's brittle, maybe that's the reason lol.
 
That new 440 stainless is suppose to be good.
Theres a newer steel coming out ats 34
S60v is the best
S30v will revolutionize the blade industry.
Maxamet, cruwear, s---v.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
Here's a short list with the exotics at the top. (YMMV)

RARE SUPER STEELS


Vanax 75
REX 121
CPM – S110V

COMMON SUPER STEELS


CPM – S90V
CPM – M4
CTS – 20CP
CTS – 204P
M390

ABOVE-AVERAGE PREMIUM STEELS


ZDP 189
CTS – XHP
Hitachi Super Blue

AVERAGE PREMIUM STEELS


CPM – S30V
VG-1
D2
Elmax
N690
154CM
ATS – 34

AVERAGE STEELS


420HC
8Cr13MoV
13C26N
440C
14C28N
Click to expand...


I know its not uncommon, but where does 1095 rank among these steels...Also, is there a significant difference between 1095 and CroVan 1095?
 
shqxk said:
SM100 is just a hyped up garbage according to several famous maker Krein, Borka etc.

Stellite won't hold an edge as good as plain D2 but 20 times more expensive.

Rex121 basically one of the most brittle PM steel out there.
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Stellite is far from garbage, as for SM-100 it's far from overhyped and it's far from garbage. Those makers are wrong, it's also obvious they never did research on the material as NASA has posted plenty of information on it... Ferrum Forge has plenty of information to tell about it also.

Nobody said Rex 121 it's not supposed to be tough... It's a HSS meant for high speed cutting and applications where temperatures will be high.
 
HowAmI said:
Stellite is far from garbage, as for SM-100 it's far from overhyped and it's far from garbage. Those makers are wrong, it's also obvious they never did research on the material as NASA has posted plenty of information on it... Ferrum Forge has plenty of information to tell about it also.

Nobody said Rex 121 it's not supposed to be tough... It's a HSS meant for high speed cutting and applications where temperatures will be high.
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I'm didn't said Stellite is garbage. Its just won't hold an edge as good as a proper steel like D2.

But SM-100 is another story. I have bought a small knife from Eric Bono who is the owner of Summit Material, the maker of SM-100. It's brittle, poor edge holding and bend easily. For the price point it's should be considered as garbage.

And those maker are the one who actually had worked with the material not some armchair theorizing. All SM-100 are heat treated by Summit themself.

Rex121 is real brittle, the toughness is not much better than ceramic. I see no reason why it should be use on regular knife.

 
Believe it or not I might have to vote H1 as if I understand correctly it is the only rust proof steel. Also it gets work hardened as a knife edge.

I know there are other steels being used in Spyderco's Salt series knives for example I believe the new Carribean won't use H1 if I remember correctly. Anyway come on a steel that doesn't rust, that's practically witchcraft.
 
Lapedog said:
Believe it or not I might have to vote H1 as if I understand correctly it is the only rust proof steel. Also it gets work hardened as a knife edge.

I know there are other steels being used in Spyderco's Salt series knives for example I believe the new Carribean won't use H1 if I remember correctly. Anyway come on a steel that doesn't rust, that's practically witchcraft.
Click to expand...
what makes h1 a super steel?
 
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