What Steel?

[Fanglekai]

you tell me, what are they best at?

Depends what you are cutting. Depends if you need corrosion resistance. Depends on how small of an angle you can profile the edge to. A highly refined edge may not have as high wear resistance as a lower grit edge.

Lots of factors. Too many variables.

The main thing to keep in mind is that higher wear resistance steels will hold their edge longer than lower wear resistant steels. One is more difficult or more time consuming to sharpen than the other.

Taking a steel to a highly polished, highly refined edge might have that edge last for one cut or even only part of one cut. Depends once again on several factors. Obviously the sharpest knife would be the one with the thinnest, most refined edge, like those Feather scalpel's used for eye surgery. Those last for one cut, though.

 

[me2]

Wear resistance doesnt always equal edge holding. If your edge only lasts one cut, something is wrong.

 

[Jet B]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...based-on-Edge-Retention-cutting-5-8-quot-rope

There is Jim's thread showing the results for his edge retention tests.

My personal favorite steel so far is M390 (Spyderco Military). I just use it for regular chores with household cardboard being the most abrasive thing it cuts on a regular basis. The performance is excellent and noticeably holds a very sharp edge longer than S30V in my opinion.

I want to try out some S90V or 20CP as well and I have a Spyderco Southard on the way that is 204CP (almost identical to M390). I'm eager to see if the 204P lasts longer than my M390 since I read it might be running 1 point harder on the Rockwell scale.

So... To answer your question: try some M390.

Easy to sharpen with diamonds.
Excellent corrosion resistance.
High wear resistance.
Takes a very nice edge and holds it long.

 

[Ankerson]

Wear resistance doesnt always equal edge holding.

It does actually as long as the blade is properly Heat Treated and tempered and ends up at the proper HRC hardness and is sharpened properly, then factor in blade and edge geometry.

That in itself is a variable.

Take a good high wear resistant steel like 10V or S110V at 64 HRC that's been HT and tempered properly with good edge and blade geometry it will cut for a very long time compared to something like AEB-L given those same factors.

Yes that's steels on the opposite ends of the spectrum, but for a general idea the point is given for a general overview.

 

[me2]

Well, if you're going to add a paragraph of qualifying statements then ok. But just having a high wear resistance doent always mean the edge holding will be better. Otherwise Buck would not have shown 420HC out cutting BG42 (or whatever it was) in their testing. How well do you estimate Talonite would do in your tests?

 

[Ankerson]

Well, if you're going to add a paragraph of qualifying statements then ok. But just having a high wear resistance doent always mean the edge holding will be better. Otherwise Buck would not have shown 420HC out cutting BG42 (or whatever it was) in their testing. How well do you estimate Talonite would do in your tests?

That was all edge and blade geometry and it was well documented as to why that happened and it has been discussed more than a few times over the years.

Same reason why I don't directly compare my thin customs to production knives.