What is your favorite steel on a survival knife?

psy-ops

psy-ops

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
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I am designing my dream survival golok. I was thinking what are my options.

What is your Favorite for a small knife and large.

Mine:

Small knife: VG10, AUS-8
Large knife: 1095
 
small knife: S30v keeps an amazing edge, I have never experienced a single problem with it on the Manix, Rukus, Skirmish, Mili...etc

large knife: whatever Justin uses to make Ranger knives and HI to make Khuks! I know I am overly technical just try to follow!; )
 
For a small carbon steel knife - A2

For a small SS knife - 12C26 or VG10

For a large knife - INFI (if I could get a flat ground/uncoated blade I wouldn't pricegag over)

For a dedicated chopper - 5160 (superior impact resistance and resists pitting corrosion)
 
I like VG-10 on a folder

I like 5160 for it's indestructableness, if that's a word

I have a new knife coming in 3V, however, and I've heard VERY good things about it.
 
it's probably what I'm carrying when I need it... Some cheapo knife... but if I had a choice some kind of carbon steel..
 
lol.

Only on blade forums will you find lay-people with hardened preferences on the steel they use in their knives, including differentiation based on the knife's intended use. :D

I'm a great fan of A2 for general-purpose knives, btw. For choppers, I think 1095 is just fine. I like S30V for my EDC pocket knives, and wouldn't scream if I got a belt knife in that.

Some day I'll take the time to look at INFI and 5160 to see what their characteristics are.
 
bulgron said:
lol.

Only on blade forums will you find lay-people with hardened preferences on the steel they use in their knives, including differentiation based on the knife's intended use. :D

I'm a great fan of A2 for general-purpose knives, btw. For choppers, I think 1095 is just fine. I like S30V for my EDC pocket knives, and wouldn't scream if I got a belt knife in that.

Some day I'll take the time to look at INFI and 5160 to see what their characteristics are.
Click to expand...

That's wacky huh. Consumers with preference based on experience of actual usage. Whoooohaha. haha. eh heh. o that hurts. :p
 
I'm happy with any carbon steel really, but O1 and A2 are definite favorites for any sized knife. In folders I like ATS-34, BG-42 and S30V. But I'd love to get a tactical folder made from tool steel!
 
1095 / D2 (Yes I like D2)/ O1 / A2 and carbon V ...simple blades fer a simple fella..not simple minded mind you.....LOL
 
You asked for steel not grind but:

Small knife: Scandi
Large knife: Convex

So long as the steel and heat-treatment is decent, I'm happy.
 
Im not savvy about what types of steel are what ...

but for a small knife that will be beat on , pried with , and generally abused , I find myself using a starret all hard HSS power hacksaw blade to get the steel from ( the big ones 1/8" thick jobs )

for big knives that are going to be used for chopping , slashing , a bit of prying , and big heaps abusing , I grab a leaf spring to use the steel from , cut and beat it into shape , quench it in "stages" edge first , then the middle , and then last of all the spine , then temper it to straw color

Dunno the numbers and letters for the steels tho .... but then Im primitive , I go by what the steel is used for in its other life .
 
Man that's a tough question, so many good ones to choose !

For a Survival Knife I would go with a Carbon steel every time.

For small, maybe A2, 51200 or INFI !!!
For large it would be 5160 or S7 !!!
 
For large knives, O1 and A2 but I'm really liking this 8670 I've been playing with.
Smaller knives, O1, A2, D2.
Even though I prefer carbon steel the one stainless I like the best is 154CM. It's actually a very tough stainless tool steel.
Scott
 
Small/pocketknife: S30V ( I wish there was a folder in INFI!)
Large blade: INFI
Heavy duty chopper: INFI (just try a FBM nicely sharpened and you will see why I say that).

Aside from the above, I also favor 5160 for a large chopping blade as well as A2 for smaller blades!
 
I love that Lam. VG-10 Fallkniven uses, 1095, 5160, 52100, 01, D2, A2(+)... there are so many.

But for a "survival knife" I would say Lam. VG-10.
 
1084 is my primary forging and grinding steel so almost all of my knives are made with it. It has enough carbon for good edge retention but still flexable enought to pry and twist with.
 
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