Your favorite blade steel

[Natedog351]

Pretty much was just thinking about trying out some new steels that I haven't used yet and wanted to see what some of yalls favorites are. Obviously you can list more than 1 and it would be nice if you left a reason why you do. There is always an up and down to every steel so I know there is no real best steel it's just preference. I like mine to hold a nice edge for a long time even if it takes a bit longer to sharpen and to have good stain resistance.

 

[Big Chris]

S90V is by far my favorite. Hols an edge for a very long time and is a very aggressive cutter. Can be ground thin and that makes the cutting action even better. It is also very stain resistant.

 

[JParanee]

Fixed blade differentialy heat treated W 2

Folder Elmax

 

[Maddogg774]

INFI
3v
S90v
Sr101

 

[Planetcat]

S90V (phenomenal edge retention with proper heat treat)
M390
D2 (a great steel for the price. Some of my hunting knives are D2, and they definitely last a few trips with minor touching up)
VG-10 (Al Mar, Fallkniven)

 

[sharpandsafe]

I'll play,

I haven't used a whole ton of different steels yet, but so far:

folder: CPM-D2
kitchen: 1095

 

[gine]

Small camp/hunter: bohler k294

Large camp/survival: cpm 3v

Kitchen: cpm 154

Folder: cpm s110v

 

[BluegrassGuy]

Infi
CPM-M4
SR-101

I prefer toughness and edge retention over stain resistance, honestly I don't care about stain resistance at all.

 

[theizzardking]

D2 as it's something I'm familiar with, so far all of my best knives have been made from D-2 but hey i'm new here and just found out Gerber sucks...hahah

 

[GarnetandBlack]

Bang for your buck? 1095 for me.

I'd probably go with d2 though. I don't usually shell out big bucks on super steels

 

[james terrio]

CPM-3V and Elmax.

 

[SpikeHawk]

Bang for your buck? 1095 for me.

I'd probably go with d2 though. I don't usually shell out big bucks on super steels

What he said. Pretty impressed with Beckers and ESEE 1095.

 

[wolf5391]

personally s30v does the job.

but I'm intrigued by rwl34

 

[peter r]

as a capable knifemaker, and pro sharpener, i like s90v on a folder. for the average joe, id say s35v is pretty great and easy to sharpen.

 

[Ernie1980]

My favorite folder steel is cpm154. For fixed blades I like carbon steels like 1095 or d2(not true carbon but not really stainless either)

 

[heavyfoldersarebest]

440c, 154cm, D2, Sandvik 14C. Basic steels that don't take forever to sharpen and honestly, if it cuts its allll goooooooooooooood.

 

[Ossa1970]

1095, A2, 01, 154cm, not in any particular order.

 

[JDunn709]

s90v
m390
m4

 

[Sulaco]

I am really enjoying Bark River's A2 right now. I also like 154CM and 3V. M4 gets a nod as does 1095 if it is done right.

 

[PatrickKnight]

I like 1095 if its done by Rowen, also a big fan of ELMAX and 440C.