What is the most important blade steel attribute?

[Slice O Life]

What do you think is most important among the blade steel traits?

 

[Jim malone]

Found that a really difficult question to answer....in what circumstances, bushcraft (toughness and sharpability), at sea cleaning fish? Or cutting down cardboard.
Because my knives are carried more then used and also with SD in my mind as well i opted for toughness. I rather have a sharp knife that doesn't break easely then a pocket laser that breaks on a tack. I know corrosion resistance is also important but it should still be able to cut ( or i would go for Ti)

 

[rustinxcohle]

Toughness all the way. Edge retention second place, but with a broken or at least badly chipped blade I don't need to think about edge retention anymore. Corrosion resistance doesn't matter that much to me, I take care of my blades and do know how to do so in the outdoors also.

 

[shane45-1911]

Well, that depends on what I am cutting, doesn't it?

Didn't vote.

 

[Larrin]

Maybe the real best steel attribute is the friends we made along the way.

 

[Shrub]

To be fair, all of the attributes of a steel are important, and it's about useless without a decent balance of at least some of all of them. But lately, yeah, I've been focused on toughness. If it'll just hold a decent edge and not be too hard to sharpen I'm pretty happy. That's why some of my favorite steels are 420hc and 5160. Of course who doesn't love cpm-3v around 60 hrc?

 

[dogstar]

LOL, other.
For me, ease of sharpening. I want a knife I can easily sharpen in the field, perhaps with improvised tools.

 

[Boattale]

I want a balance of the three traits named in the poll.

 

[Lesknife]

That’s similar to asking what’s the most important ingredient in pizza. If any one of the ingredients are missing or off it ain’t pizza anymore. But all of them working together in the right amounts prepared and cooked in expert fashion it is so good and nutritional! Now I gotta have some pizza and a beer, what was your question?

 

[dogstar]

That’s similar to asking what’s the most important ingredient in pizza. If any one of the ingredients are missing or off it ain’t pizza anymore. But all of them working together in the right amounts prepared and cooked in expert fashion it is so good and nutritional! Now I gotta have some pizza and a beer, what was your question?

Everyone knows the sauce is the most important ingredient in a pizza. New York does it best

 

[Twindog]

I'd say edge stability, which combines toughness, strength and -- often -- wear resistance. Basically, it's the ability of a knife edge to stay a knife edge.

 

[LimpCroissant]

I don't know, that's too loaded of a question for me to answer right now without writing out a small essay in response. I do tend to focus on toughness and sharpenability quite a bit lately though.

 

[Greggy]

Edgecorrosness. That is most important.

 

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Of the three you listed, generally, Toughness. It can't be sharp if it aint there, or is in multiple pieces.

That's a pretty broad view, a balance is going to be best.

 

[Hackenslash]

The most important blade steel attribute is to found on a knife with good ergonomics, balanced materials, good cutting geometry, great design and reliable support/service.

 

[1911bphil]

I voted for edge retention. All parts must work together to have a good knife, but if it won't cut, it's not a knife.

 

[ace]

Who would win in a fight a bear or a crocodile? Similar type of question after all.

 

[dogstar]

Who would win in a fight a bear or a crocodile? Similar type of question after all.

Bear, clearly. Brute strength + intelligence = WIN.

 

[mobilerd]

A.
B.
C.
D. All of the above.

 

[ace]

Bear, clearly. Brute strength + intelligence = WIN.

Nah, impossible to answer without details, same as OP question. Shows fundamental lack of understanding.