What's everyones favorite steel?

I love this game!
First is CPM S150V (which never left the factory because it was too hard to shape into anything usable!), then CPM MPL-1 (which isn't produced in bar stock form and thus has never been used in a knife, but is an amazing alloy), and more recently I've taken a fancy to Bohler's Vandis 60 (very similar to Rex 76, but should be slightly harder).
That last one should be usable in knives (thank goodness).
 
For a folder I could live with 420HC or BG-42 but my fav is S30V. :D BOS HT is a bonus!

Fixed blade would be ATS-34 in a 4" to 5" and INFI for the BIG Chopper...:thumbup:
 
I just picked up a knife that has D2. I've read it has extremly high wear resisting properties because of the high-chromium and high-carbon content.
 
I have no one favorite steel. In truth, I like them all.

At the moment, I have a thing for Carbon V, otherwise known as 0170-6C. Makes for a great pocket knife blade.

Among stainless alloys, I like 154CM, aka ATS34 and 14-4 CrMo, depending upon which steelmaker made the steel.

Then there's D2. Kind of stainless. Kind of not. But very awesome stuff nonetheless.

Much as I like to try different steels and understand their capabilities, I have to say that I rarely choose a knife because of the blade alloy. (I have to admit I bought a couple just so I could try that particular alloy.) But if I'm really after the knife as a whole, the blade could be made of any of a dozen alloys and I would not care. The alloy is only a portion of the total design.
 
knarfeng said:
...Much as I like to try different steels and understand their capabilities, I have to say that I rarely choose a knife because of the blade alloy. (I have to admit I bought a couple just so I could try that particular alloy.) But if I'm really after the knife as a whole, the blade could be made of any of a dozen alloys and I would not care. The alloy is only a portion of the total design.
Click to expand...

...and there it is, that's the play :thumbup:...the whole package has to sing to me; the blade alloy plays only a small part in the decision to purchase...
 
I am only going off the fact that I have used it more and not needed to sharpen it since owning it (2 years), and thats my Spyderco Waved Rescue with a VG10 SE. A Hollow ground VG10 blade with serrations is, whoomp there it is!
 
Stainless:

ZDP 189
S90V/S110V
BG42
SPGS/SG2

Carbon/alloy steels:
CPM M4
M2
O1
W1/W2
Vascowear
3V
Aogami 1/2/Super blue

I'd imagine 10V/A11 would right up my alley but as of yet I don't have any in knives at home.
 
right now I'm pretty happy with S90V, but I think that any of the better quality stuff with primo HT is good

154 CM
S30V
ZDP 189
BG 42
VG10
M4
 
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