Whats the deal with steel?

S

Silverthorn

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Apr 24, 2011
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Whats your favorite steel and why?

I keep hearing about D2 and Sanmi and others, but if you could have your favorite maker make a knife from scratch for you, and cost was no object, what steel would it be??
Oh and while you are at it, describe your dream knife aaand, who would make it?
 
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Wow. Favorite steel? I guess there's not too much about the steel, as long as the HT is good. I have an EnZo Trapper bushcraft knife in O1 and really like the edge retention and sharpness on it.

I've been looking for some 1095/O1 bar stock to make myself some knives, as I will have a hardening/tempering setup at work :D

I don't have the slightest idea what my dream knife would look like, the closest thing I could say is that I'd love to see a knife that is like a smaller flat ground BK-2. I could go with a blade thickness of 4mil, a blade length of 110mil, a choil and jimping. I guess that's it. Dunno about the steel, but I don't care much for "wonder steels", I like to keep it simple. Carbon tool steels for me, please :)
 
a bk2 in D6 tool steel. youd never have to sharpen that prybar again. but if you did it would take about a month :D
 
I would like a 10 inch BK2, 1/4 inch thick, and a little wider like a bk9.
1095 is OK with me.
 
First choice: 5160; not only does it have good edge quality and edge retention, it is a very strong steel with excellent shock resistance.

Second choice: 1095; particularly KaBar's version of 1095, which can be made scary sharp with very little effort.

I've always wanted a KaBar styled dagger. Leather washer handle, 7" fully double edged blade with fullers, basically just a double edged KaBar.
 
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complete Becker lineup in L6 :)

my dream "knife" is a forged L6 Falcata :>

perhaps a Ginunting or three...
 
Apparently sarcasm doesn't read well?

Everyone knows the BK77 and its S30V goodness is my fav. knife.
If we're daydreaming, I'd go for a SanMai EsKabar.
 
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I really like san mai, but it depends on the maker. Also heat treat.
My knife would be a flat ground drop or spear point 4-5 inch blade with a smaller Becker type handle, dangler sheath that has the hilt just shy of the top of my belt, and rapid release strap.
 
I've become a fan of A2 in carbon steels for the following reasons: The toughness of O1, wear resistance somewhere btw O1 and D2, "feels" neat. I put feels in quotes because although it is something I can feel in my hands, I'm not really sure what it is - or if it's just this one knife!

In Stainless I'd like to try ATS34/154CM.

In general I prefer more recent riffs on traditional quality steels, but the supersteels leave me cold. Any too much of one property causes some irritating result.

-Daizee
 
A lot of my folders are CPM-S30V and VG10. The CPM for me is outstanding at holding an edge. I am getting more into fixed blades and customs so I am working with a lot of 1095, 01, etc... Sometimes it bugs me that I have to be more careful to avoid rust. Also I like to use whatever knife I have with me for food prep and have a hard time dealing with the tinny taste from the blade.

I have a couple of knives with D2 and a couple with M4 and I like those a lot too.
 
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