Whats your favourite stainless steel knife?

XtianAus

XtianAus

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So far considering a gso Survive! Knife in 20cv or a FF duke.

What else do you guys like?
 
Hmm.

S30V and S35VN are as good as people say they are, but (for me, anyway), harder to get a really shaving-sharp edge. I suspect I'm not stropping properly.

154CM/CPM154 continues to hold it's own.

I think we've gotten to the point where gains are incremental, and real progress in cutting performance requires a complete approach to understanding the heat treat process and bevel geometry. IMO, cutting performance is %20 metal chemistry, %45 bevel, and %35 heat treat.

From all I've heard, Survive! gets the process right, though.
 
First off I assume you mean all Stainless (blade and handle).

In that case I would say the Spyderco Cricket hands down. A very unique and useful knife. Good mini addition to a "normal" size knife like the Boker Ti above. Larger than the Cricket and I want Ti in a metal handle.

 
This post just made me realize that I own very few in stainless. Most of my stuff is 1095.
 
XtianAus said:
Whats your favorite stainless steel knife?
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Most of my favorite knives are in D2, which is not stainless. So this will take some head scratching.

My favorite stainless modern one-hander knife is a Buck Vantage Pro in S30V.
I have other pricier knives from bigger name manufacturers in fancier alloys. But the Vantage Pro is generally what I reach for when I carry a modern one-hand-opening knife with stainless steel.

My favorite stainless traditional pocket knife is likely a Buck 301.

I think the only Stainless sheath knives I have are a Buck 119 and a Buck 105 Pathfinder in 440C, so I guess they win by default. But they are good knives which have served me well in past years.
 
I have a personal edc in m390 by Big Chris, and a edc slicer grind by Blunt cut metalworks that are my favs... way more solid than any folding knifew when I am out in the woods.
Russ
 
XtianAus said:
Either, or both.

And thanks for the replies guys.
Seems like stainless steel knives really are not popular at all
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I would be cautious of making absolute statements, especially with this crowd! :p

The Bladeforums membership is sometimes harsh, and sometimes it's hard to tell if they're serious or not. But everybody is here because they have a great deal of interest in knives, and many of them are very well informed.

I'm not anywhere near as well informed as others, but this is the Internet, and I expect to be wrong....

Anyway. Where was I? Oh yes. By mentioning Survive! from the start, you had me, and probably others, thinking about fixed blades in the 3 and 1/2 inch and up range. Somewhere around there, we start looking for tool steel or semi-stainless blades (D2, 3V, etc), because you start talking about wood processing and outdoor activities. Steels with lower Chromium content are perceived to be less prone to chipping and edge rolling, and these start to be important with larger knives.

Now there are exceptions on both sides of the 12% Chromium content line. Stainless has made gains in toughness over the years, and there are tool steels which are more stain-resistant, it that's a priority for you.

If you want to know what stainless steels we go for with smaller fixed blades or everyday carry folders, then the answers vary widely. But for big(-ish) fixed blades, you'll see a lot more carbon steel.
 
For sheath knives, I've got several in s35vn that have been great. I don't have any trouble getting a good sharp edge on them and they hold it well. For pocket knives, I like Elmax, cpm154, CTS XHP, s35vn and s30v all have been great.
 
I prefer SS for knives.
I'm not that fussy, choosing a knife by design first, steel type second.
My current favourite is fallkniven 3G, which I think has a SG2 core.
 
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XtianAus said:
Either, or both.

And thanks for the replies guys.
Seems like stainless steel knives really are not popular at all
Click to expand...

I don't think you're being very observant. Most Benchmades and Spyderco's that are sold are stainless. There are some diehard 1095 and other carbon steel fans but overall I believe most people prefer some type of stainless steel especially in premium steel.
 
I prefer my folders to be stainless and my fixed blades to be non stainless
 
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