What is YOUR favorite blade steel?

For folders I think Elmax takes the cake right now as I really love the razor edge it holds for a long time while being very tough, corrrosion resistant, and easy for me to sharpen. For fixed blades, I only really have experience with 1095 and SR-101 so I guess those are my favorites because I like them both.
 
Folder- M390 and Elmax. S90V is good too.

Small fixed blade= 10V

Medium Fixed blade/ all arounder- M4, 52100, 3V and Elmax

BIg chopper 3V, INFI, 52100.
 
CV steel (actual composition not known) in my case peanut and toothpick. sad to admit it but a dull, thin slipjoint blade often outperforms a modern folder with a super steel blade.
 
3V lately. It lets you get away with a thinner grind than most. S90V seems impressive so far but I haven't put it through the paces yet. I know I'm gonna catch heat for this but I dislike 154cm. Kinda a pain to sharpen but doesn't hold an edge real well.
 
Overall favorite 52100/sr101, because of toughness, quality of edge, and edge holding.

S30v for stainless, but it is the only higher grade stainless I've tried.
 
For folders it's a tie between M4 and M390.
For fixed blades I like larger ones to be infi and smaller ones to be SR101. And yes Bussekin is awesome.
 
Right now CPM-M4 is my favorite. I just like the edge it takes (Gayle Bradley and 760LFTI).

I have some folders in 3v, elmax and s35vn that I need to put through the paces (SNG,ZT560,PeterR). I haven't sharpened them up yet so I don't carry them.
 
I don't have any experience with M390, or M4 … they look to be pretty popular.

Of the steels I do own, I like S30V, A2, 3V, ZDP-189, 154CM, ELMAX, INFI, VG-10, 1095 on the right knife (not necessarily in that order).

Overall favorite? … Probably S30V for it's "general purpose EDC" nature …

~ Edge
 
I love M4, which gets crazy sharp. It's also very easy to maintain. People over-blow the fact that it's not quite stainless. Love the edges I can get with it and it lasts very well. CTS-XHP is one of my favorites as well and I'd love to try CTS-204P because I think it's supposed to be better. The sharpest edges I've ever gotten with the Wicked Edge have been with XHP. it's not terribly hard to sharpen. M390 is definitely great. I haven't tried much cutting with my new Spyderco Tuff with 3V, but I'm eager to sharpen and use this steel. S90V is just outstanding, maybe the "best" I've seen. I think CTS or M4 would have to be my favorites, though. Super sharp and easy enough to sharpen that leave gorgeous mirror finishes and hold the edges long enough for me. I am not a steel expert, but in my personal use, I don't find Elmax to be all that great. Better than S30V, sure, but not on the level of the others as far as I'm concerned. I dunno though. I wish I had the balls to use my Kershaw Tilt so I could see how Vanax 75 holds up. And I love the edge you can get with ZDP-189, but it's not my favorite to sharpen or polish and it's fairly prone to chipping.
 
I can't pick just one. It's difficult picking one in each category but if I had to live with only one steel used on small folding knives all the way up to big, thick fixed blades I'd take Vascowear/cruwear.

rc 62-63 on folders, down to 58-59 on the 8-9 inch sized knives.

It's a good combination of toughness and wear resistance. 3V could stand in. It was developed from Vascowear in the beginning. I haven't tried them yet but the powder steel versions sound worth a try. PD-1, Z wear, etc.

Other favorites I like:
W2
L6
O-1
Super Blue
52100
10V

BG42
M390
S110V
CPM 154
 
This is a great thread, I never knew there were this many types of steel for making a knife. Good stuff here! Anyone know if there is a thread that tells about the processes of making a knife with different steel, like what temp to forge at, after hardening what to draw It back to, can it even be hardened or drawn back. If someone could direct me in the right direction that would be great. Thanks.
 
A poll might have been nice so you could get a tally. Of course, then folks couldn't defend their choice easily.
Sonny
 
I' d say S30V/S35VN probably. It' s reasonably easy to sharpen(a big plus to me) and holds an edge just about fine for me.
 
For EDC use, my favorite blade steel is S30V. Not had a lot of experience with other blade steels other than 154CM. It's okay, but I like S30V better.
 
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