your top 3 steels?

I like 3V so far in using it really hard. Also zwear in the really hard use catagory. Of the stainless I have tried 154, s30v, Elmax and some cheaper ones I like Elmax.
 
I don't have experience with everything out there, and I think heat treat can have a lot to do with it.
3V
M390
S30V
They have all been working well for me. I have D2 on the way, so we'll see. From what I've heard the more exotic the steel the harder it is to get a consistent heat treat. I think that might be why we see some people having problems every once in a while, with what should be a good steel.
 
My favorites:

1. 154cm, cpm-154 & ats-34. I lumped all these together as they really in the same family. I find they offer me a very acceptable middle ground on all the attributes I find important in a steel. Decent edge retention, good corrosion resistance and most important to me ease of sharpening.

2. S30V. Took me awhile to get used to sharpening this stuff but Its one of my faves.

3. D2- I used to scoff at this steel. But over the years seeing how many knives I have owned with it and the nice edge it takes I find my prejudices were not very warranted. Its proven itself over the years. And I love the finish it takes.

Honorable mention: Elmax. Im still on the fence with this steel. Ive had some knives with elmax that I was not fond of. But I have also had knives come in elmax that were so freaking sharp and held that edge so well that It left me puzzled. So I cant really say its a favorite but I have my eye on this steel.
 
D2, because it has a 'bite' (maybe due to large carbides) and holds an edge a long time: S35Vn, a kissin' cousin that is probably tougher; 52100, because it is incredibly tough and very fine grained so it takes an amazingly keen edge, plus it's easy to sharpen.
 
My list should not be taken as an exclusion of the steels not mentioned because i can only comment on those steels that I actually use and therefore cannot comment on those that I do not own or own and either don't use or have used so little that my opinion would not be valuable.

Consideration has been given to edge ability, edge holding ability, ease of sharpening and overall durability. Oh, and being limited to three is tough given the variety of knife applications, so I have taken the liberty of going with three - in each of three categories.:p

Heavy duty:
INFI
1095/1095CV
SR-101

Folders:
S35VN ala CRK
CPM154/154CM/ATS-34
VG-10

Other and/or Unique Applications"
M2
H1
A2

Again, failure to make my lists only means that I either do not see it as a "top" steel or I have no or limited experience with it. I have experience with all of the steels on my lists and am more than satisfied with them - as well as others that have not made the lists.
 
In folders I really like m390, cts xhp and m4 from my experience so far. Though I recently (last 6 months) got a folder in vanax 75 and Nitrobe 77 and I am really liking the results im getting in wear resistance, tougness/edge stability ease of sharpening (especially N77) and attainable sharpness. I want to try vanax 35 as well since its a nitrogen steel as well and ive become a fan recently.
I do want to to get a folder with either aeb-l/13c26 with a high hardness (62hrc) and see how it stacks up. Lately I tend to value a thinner ground knife over one with the highest wear steel. I know that most modern steels can be ground to 0.005 and even less but there are steels that performs better at it, example aebl over s125v. At the end of the day, im jysf a steel junkee and value all steels not just the newest high carbide ones. Plus heat treat, geometry, edge angle and finish play as much if not a bigger role in knives than just the steel used. ill stop since i went off topic. Great choices everyone, i liked seiing the variety i saw. Thank you and take care.

In fixed blades I really like 3v, 52100 and good ol 10xx steels.
 
The steel I am most impressed with lately would be 3V.
I have a few Survive fixed blades and this steel has performed very well.
I would love to try out 3V in a knife with much thinner stock though and see how that goes.

As for my top 3 steels I will go by what I have used most and that would be 1095, Rostfrei, and the 440 type stainless.

I have tried a lot of the CPM steels and they are very nice, esp. 154cm and ats-134 but I prefer the ease of sharpening of 1095 and such.
 
Out of all those I've tried, mine are:
H1 - Can't ever have enough of this one. Wish all my folders and MT were in H1...
AUS8 - Tried and true, I love how easy it is to sharpen
1095 - My first and favorite carbon steel for most tasks. Can't beat the classics!
 
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