Which steel takes the keenest edge? Finest grain structure?

[pastormarty]

I've tried to search for this, but am having trouble with the search function. I have heard that the Sandvic steels take a very keen edge. For outright FINE edge, not necessarily edge retention, which gets the sharpest?

 

[singularity35]

Take a look at the Hitachi White. It's supposed to take a really keen edge.

 

[Alberta Ed]

I've found that 52100, 1070, 50100 (Carbon V) and similar high carbon steels take the finest edge. Sandvic stainless steels are fine-grained and come very close.

 

[Samael]

I've found that 52100, 1070, 50100 (Carbon V) and similar high carbon steels take the finest edge. Sandvic stainless steels are fine-grained and come very close.

:thumbup: for 52100. O-1 ain't exactly shabby either.

 

[Zombie Zeke]

All depends on the blade and how you sharpen it...

My AUS8a Recon 1 is literally razor sharp, it won't hold the edge like ZDP189 but it will re sharpen a hell of alot easier. All steels are a compromise of some type.

 

[Samael]

I've got to admit, AUS-8 can get pretty scary sharp.

 

[rick melear]

1095 tempered hard, or S30V have worked well for me.

 

[michaelm466]

Of the steels I've tried I'd say M390.

 

[jimnolimit]

Basic (low alloy or no alloy) high carbon steels will probably take the finest edge. It's going to be hard to peg down an exact steel that takes the finest edge. Other things to consider are the actual blade geometry, the heat treat and how fine you are sharpening the edge.

Let's start here: what type of knife are you looking for? Do you care if it's stainless?

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

Cpm m4

 

[Tsujigiri]

Powder steels seem to take a finer edge than most others.

 

[EagleScouter]

High vanadium steels like S90V and S110V are supposed to have a fine grain structure.

 

[knarfeng]

I've found that 52100, 1070, 50100 (Carbon V) and similar high carbon steels take the finest edge. Sandvic stainless steels are fine-grained and come very close.

What Ed said.

 

[AlphaRomero]

Sandvik; surgical but has to be maintained; i do believe it has the finest grain count

 

[Ankerson]

AEB-L

Used for Straight Razors.

 

[gine]

My vote goes to SG2,"super gold 2" was used in kershaw's JYD titanium model, and used in japanese kitchen knives.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

High vanadium steels like S90V and S110V are supposed to have a fine grain structure.

In my experience S90V loses its razor sharp edge pretty quick. CPM M4 holds a razor edge a couple times longer. Assuming it has a good heat treat, and I'm basing this on actual use of steels heat treated by Spyderco. The M4 is also really easy to get razor sharp in the first place.

 

[AlphaRomero]

i meant for the money of course; i'm slowly graduating to "super steels"

 

[Jason B.]

Razor steels like 12c27 and AEB-L

All steels will get hair splitting and beyond but some just stand out over the others

52100, CPM-M4, and ZDP-189 would be good contenders for 2nd place.

 

[Twindog]

I've always been impressed with 52100. Also Aogami Super Blue and M4. For stainless, M390 is excellent.