your top 3 steels?

Only including steels I have owned long enough to actually get use out of:
S30V (ease of sharpening vs. edge retention vs. cost vs. ease of maintenance)
154CM (same)
CPM-M4 (easy to sharpen, takes a keen edge and holds it for ages, worth the extra effort to maintain)
 
For folders
S90V, M390, ELMAX

For smaller knives
ELMAX, 10V, K390,

Mid Sized
M4, 52100, 3V

Chopper
3V, INFI, 52100
 
EDC = s30v, although Elmax testing is looking promising. I just wish I had a Ritter Griptilian or Para Military II in Elmax. Why, because S30V cuts agressively for a long time and is easy to strop back to scary sharp.

For Camping/Outdoor/Survival = INFI, SR101, Rowen 1095, in that order. These are my top 3 pics because they can do heavy duty cutting and chopping for quite a while and their edges can be restored (if needed) with varying degrees of ease in the field. Sr101 holds its edge the longest but is the hardest to restore in the field. At least for me. INFI is the best allrounder but I am looking forward to a custom ELMAX or CPM 3V kukri which I think may be a game changer.Only hard testing will tell for sure.
 
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1095 - It's cheap, and it gets the job done.
8Cr13MoV - It's cheap, it's stainless, and it gets the job done.
S30V - 1) It's easier to say than "8Cr13MoV", and 2) it has good material properties.

Honorable mention: D2.
 
S30V @ 58 RC - Fairly easy to sharpen compared to...
S90V - Holds an edge forever, sucks to sharpen. It's great if you're using the knife all day.

My favorite steel is Strider CPM-154 it falls perfectly between my other two favorites in edge retention and ease of sharpening.
 
cpm D2 is a favriote for edge holding.
s35vn stainless and takes a fine edge.
1095 cant beat good old carbon
SG2 sharpest.
 
Big fan of d2 and more so of cpm-d2. S30 and s35 are some really great steels. Havnt worked with s90 or elmax or many others but I'll get there.
 
154CM for a folder - even though its great at nothing - it's good at everything.

1095 for a fixed blade - cause it makes me feel old school.

In the kitchen - ceramic. - It stays sharp and my wife won't use it because she is afraid she'll break it.
 
Stainless
Carbon
Tool

but seriously, I'll just go with whatever Ankerson says. :D

SM-100/60-NiTiNOL-PM isn't a steel, but it sure sounds awesome.
 
Nullity said:
Stainless
Carbon
Tool

but seriously, I'll just go with whatever Ankerson says. :D

SM-100/60-NiTiNOL-PM isn't a steel, but it sure sounds awesome.
Click to expand...

As this thread is about a few years old, I'm wondering if Ankerson tested a Nitinol-60 knife since.

I'm not really sure what to make of this alloy compared to super steels.
 
10V For those times when you want to cut all day without sharpening

S90V Best stainless knife steel IMHO

3V The one steel I feel excels in everything from a 3" hunter to a 36" Sword.
 
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