What is your favorite Blade Steel?

[KeithAM]

For slipjoints I'm very happy with plain 1095/10XX steel as well as Case CV.

If I were to order a custom slipjoint, I'd probably spec something else though, likely a really nice damascus.

For other folders my favorite so far is M2.

 

[moonwilson]

I chose "other". I really like 154CM and S30V. ATS-34 is nothing to sneeze at, however. I'm not much of a steel snob. Honestly, most of the steels out there nowadays work just fine. I like 1095 a lot, and Buck's 420HC, Case's Tru-Sharp and CV all work for me.

 

[NirreBosse]

I voted CV as I now use it all the time and like it a lot but my favorit is VG10. Bosse

 

[Peter Parker]

I checked D2 but my actual favorite is CPM D2 and then a tie between S30V, D2, and just behind these 13C26 tied with 52100 and 1095.

 

[kamagong]

This was a hard choice. For production slipjoints my favorite is 1095. But for customs I ask for CPM154.

 

[dsvirsky]

I'm a big fan of 3V. Don't have any slip joints in that steel (yet) but I do have a couple of lockbacks in 3V. I'm pretty happy with the one's I do have in D2, S30V, CPM 154, BG-42, and 52100.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

1095 etc. and Case CV for carbon steels, CPM154cm for stainless.

 

[YayILikePie]

I'm partial to Case CV and Sandvik 12c27. Both are pretty easy to sharpen up and hold a decent edge for what I need. Good stuff.

 

[Chewy1]

How's about "solingen"? There are a lot of slippies in that mystery steel.

 

[Capt. Carl]

I'd actually like to see vg-10 on a traditional slipjoint. Too bad it's japanese only.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I prefer a good old carbon steel over all the high alloy stuff.

But

Heat treat and edge geometry are more important than steel type

 

[CL01]

As far as traditional knives go, the one I seem to carry the most is in D2. That's followed, very closely by a good carbon steel (1095 especially GEC, but Case's CV & Boker's C75 is not bad, either).

 

[rickmenefee]

154cm,ats34,d2,bg42

 

[neeman]

I do not understand why many manufactures stay with 420HC, or the similar Tru-Sharp.
These steels perform okay, but there are much better SS out there without moving to expensive steels
There is a very limited move to Sandvik 12c27, but why not the better 13c27?

The choice of carbon in limited to small selection of Case and GEC, but GEC are higher priced knives (too high?).

The reason given that Buck still used 420HC is that it is 'easy to sharpen' for non-knut users.
I really like D2 in the Queens as a better steel, it is much harder to sharpen but certainly holds an edge well; but understand why it would not be a 'popular' steel to use.
I would like to see a move to better steels like VG10, which is easy to sharpen and holds a good edge; this could fill the 'easy to sharpen' mode for a 'popular' steel.

It would be good if the Slippie manufactures could catch up with the 'Tactical' manufacuters in the use of better steels.
I find it odd why a top manufacture like S&M produces high quality knives in HC420 and not a better steel like VG10

So I am very satisfied with D2 as an excellent working steel.
I would like to see production pocket knives offered in the $50 range with 13c27 or VG10, and more carbon availiable.

 

[slopingcompanion]

I love A2 as a beginning maker, but as a beginning collector I am curious....have any traditional productions used A2?

 

[rickmenefee]

I didnt tell the whole truth on my first post. I cant tell the difference in any of it. The main difference one will rust the other wont. The grind, heat-treat and cryo cycle has more to do with than anything. Its all good.

 

[Chewy1]

So, they aren't exactly the same, but pretty close...154CM and ATS34. Add those together right now, and they have 48 votes, even more than good old 1095.

So, the question is begged, Why aren't there more modern steels being used in slip joints?

I myself love the S30V found in my Native, the VG10 and SGPS found in my Falks, and would love to see more of these in use in traditional looking knives. Please, don't make me buy a custom...'cuz I will.

 

[Bastid]

I am pretty sure Canal Street used some A2 on a few models. Our first forum knife had it and you can count me in as a fan. I guess my overall favorite is 52100, but I also very much like D2, 440V and BG42. So many great steels out there including 440C and Case CV that at this point in my life, I am not that picky.

 

[Will Power]

All the steels listed are very good, and the range is excellent.

I very much agree with neeman about the intro of vg10 I have a MOKI lockback in it, it's easy to sharpen and has a fine edge.More of this would be nice.

I can't sharpen D2 very well and get frustrated with it, don't much like its halfway house version of patina either....

I'm pleased with CASE steels though, they get the job done well enough for my needs.