Which Spyderco Steel Would You Recommend to a Carbon Steel Lover?

C

Coonskinner

Joined
Mar 28, 2001
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I know that Spydies are mostly stainless.

I am for the most part a traditional knife user, but I am having some arthritis issues in my hands, and am thinking of picking up a Spyderco for bad days whe na traditional is tough to use.

I have a Calypso Jr. in VG-10 that I like, and a Kiwi,also in VG-10.

But my wife told me to order a knife for myself for Christmas around a hundred bucks, so I am asking for some suggestions.

I like the fine, push cutting razor edge I get with a good carbon steel.

I HATE D2.

WHat would you Spyderco affianados recommend for a guy like me?
 
Hap40. My favorite edc steel hands down. Sharpens like superblue with much better wear resistance. There are a couple of new spydies coming out in hap40.
 
I would try to find a super blue sprint run if I were you. My first spyderco was a stretch in that steel, and comparing it to vg-10 I found it much more willing to take a fine edge. Maxamet, while non stainless, is far from a plain carbon steel since it is a high wearing tool steel. I haven't used it, but I've heard h-1 sharpens very easily, although edge retention isn't stellar.
 
Woah. 100ish bucks and carbon steel! Dude find a Gayle bradley 1 or 2. If for some reason those aren't your thing hap 40 is great too.

I have a maxamet manix LW but it's price and my lack of use with it precludes me from recommending it. I Whole heartedly endorse a GB 2 or Stretch Hap 40.
 
Not exactly a carbon steel but for your 100 bucks there are a few in ZDP-189 that would fit the bill.
Dragonfly, Delica I believe (without looking them up) are around that price.
Other than that, as already mentioned, the Gayle Bradley 2 with M4 steel is an awesome knife if you want to throw a few more bucks at it.
 
I don't necessarily have to have a carbon steel.

Just a stainless that sharpens relatively easy and takes a fine edge.

I may just get a Delica in VG-10.

I like it well enough. Just thought I would see what is available.
 
What size range, are you looking for?
Dragonfly 2 in Hap40, is Amazing!

Any particular type of lock? Just asking for ease of closing..
I've taken a quick liking to the Sage 5 in s30v.. easy open and close. Better then vg-10 but Not Hap40...
 
I think Gayle Bradley 2 in M4 steel would be #1 and Maxamet would be #2. I have both and a lot of carbon steel knives. These are a great fit for the likes of us.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
Coonskinner said:
I know that Spydies are mostly stainless.

I am for the most part a traditional knife user, but I am having some arthritis issues in my hands, and am thinking of picking up a Spyderco for bad days whe na traditional is tough to use.

I have a Calypso Jr. in VG-10 that I like, and a Kiwi,also in VG-10.

But my wife told me to order a knife for myself for Christmas around a hundred bucks, so I am asking for some suggestions.

I like the fine, push cutting razor edge I get with a good carbon steel.

I HATE D2.

WHat would you Spyderco affianados recommend for a guy like me?
Click to expand...

VG-10 should work well for you, will give you good edge retention without being hard to sharpen.
 
The Manix 2 lightweight translucent blue is easy on the hands and lightweight in the pocket. The BD1 steel is easy to sharpen. Under $100
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Or for something smaller, a nice looking Chaparral. Full four finger grip. I find the CTS-XHP easy to keep sharp on a common Sharpmaker
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XHP is just powder stainless D2 which he stated he does not like. Most of the above steels are far, far from simple carbon steel like 1075, or 1095. Super blue is the best choice for Coonskinners stated knife. There are always trade offs in everything though. Super Blue knives are hard to find and you have to pay what the seller demands. Otherwise that would be the obvious first choice. If you can use a Silicone carbide or diamond sharpener then your choices go up dramatically. Pretty much all Spyderco does is going to be high performance cutlery steels. Very high carbide steels have their place and can be great but comparing Maxamet or 10V to a carbon steel is not being honest. That they are super high performing steels is not in doubt though.

If I could recommend something without price for him I'd begin with Super Blue, and go on to 52100 ( millie only so far) , O-1 ( Bushcrafter fixed blade so far) and then go to CPM M4 . That's not a simple carbon steel but it sure does cutting and slicing well. I just wouldn't want to re profile on the old water stone I used in the 1960's through 70's. Now I use diamonds almost exclusively I look at the high performing high carbide steels very differently.

Good luck Coonskinner. They are all pretty good. All knives and steels are compromises. Find what appeals to you and then use it hard ( no prying obviously) and you will see what really separates Spyderco from most companies out there. I too have arthritis and use my HAP 40 ( M4 with added cobalt) Endura with no problems. I am also a carbon steel fan BTW.

Joe
 
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You will like that HAP40, I am certain. Super Blue is another good choice if you can find knives in it. They are popular and people tend to hang on to them.
 
Coonskinner said:
I know that Spydies are mostly stainless.

I am for the most part a traditional knife user, but I am having some arthritis issues in my hands, and am thinking of picking up a Spyderco for bad days whe na traditional is tough to use.

I have a Calypso Jr. in VG-10 that I like, and a Kiwi,also in VG-10.

But my wife told me to order a knife for myself for Christmas around a hundred bucks, so I am asking for some suggestions.

I like the fine, push cutting razor edge I get with a good carbon steel.

I HATE D2.

WHat would you Spyderco affianados recommend for a guy like me?
Click to expand...

Depends on what you like to sharpen with. If you're used to a fine edge from an Arkansas stone then your choices are limited. Super blue and 52100 knives are floating around. But much more than those or VG10 will be hard to sharpen. Most of these guys are offering really solid choices if you use silicon carbide stones or ceramics or whatever.

If you like carbon steel toughness and ease of sharpening with at least some level of good edge retention and corrosion resistance then cruwear would be good.

Finding knives that are small enough to stay within your stated size considerations and with the exact steels is a little tough.

I'd suggest a Chaparral. Yes, it has CTS-XHP and that's stated to be a stainless D2 but that's only based on chemical composition, not actual performance. If you're used to VG10 then I'll compare it to that. It'll be a touch harder to sharpen than VG10 but it'll keep an edge much longer in most any use. It's fairly small, has a good blade profile, easy to open and close with either hand or both, doesn't have anything extravagant, just a solid knife that you'd probably enjoy.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...ts-xhp-satin-plain-blade-raffir-noble-handles


https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...1316-cts-xhp-plain-blade-carbon-fiber-handles
 
bodog said:
Depends on what you like to sharpen with. If you're used to a fine edge from an Arkansas stone then your choices are limited. Super blue and 52100 knives are floating around. But much more than those or VG10 will be hard to sharpen. Most of these guys are offering really solid choices if you use silicon carbide stones or ceramics or whatever.

If you like carbon steel toughness and ease of sharpening with at least some level of good edge retention and corrosion resistance then cruwear would be good.

Finding knives that are small enough to stay within your stated size considerations and with the exact steels is a little tough.

I'd suggest a Chaparral. Yes, it has CTS-XHP and that's stated to be a stainless D2 but that's only based on chemical composition, not actual performance. If you're used to VG10 then I'll compare it to that. It'll be a touch harder to sharpen than VG10 but it'll keep an edge much longer in most any use. It's fairly small, has a good blade profile, easy to open and close with either hand or both, doesn't have anything extravagant, just a solid knife that you'd probably enjoy.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...ts-xhp-satin-plain-blade-raffir-noble-handles


https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP...1316-cts-xhp-plain-blade-carbon-fiber-handles
Click to expand...

I've got Diamond hones, ceramics, and Norton India stones.
 
Coonskinner said:
I wound up ordering a Stretch in Hap40.

Thanks, gentlemen.
Click to expand...

I just saw this and your other post about your sharpening gear. I don't have any hap40 but it's supposed to be a "better" M4. M4 isn't terribly hard to sharpen. IMO it's easier than D2.

If you find you like Hap40 then you'll probably find most Spyderco steels are good for one reason or another. Do you mind me asking why you don't like D2? I'm not a big fan either. Hasn't really ever performed that well for me despite what a lot of other people say. Maybe I've just gotten bad examples. But anyway, Hap40 should be a breeze with diamonds and ceramics if it's anything like M4 in the real world, as opposed to just looking at chemical compositions.
 
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