O1 tool steel overrated?

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Valte2003

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Dec 21, 2013
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I hear that people praise O1 tool steel and consider it one of the best avaible on the market, but... I'm not so convinced, I think 1095 still bests O1 at any time... however, never had a knife made of either both, have a machete made of 1095 from Ontario and it's quite good, however 1095 is definetly a knife steel... anyone has experience with one or both, and let's settle once and for all what the best steel is between the two!
 
I havn't got the chance to use it extensively like 1095 but i love my old 1095 and i hear they are alot alike. Though i have never heard people say O1 is the best! :confused:
 
There is no best. I like 1095 but my hunting knife is O1 and it will go through several deer and only need a stropping.
 
never said the best, i meant higher end steel, but back to the point, probably O1 may be tougher than 1095, but let's take other factors into consideration... like how hard or easy it is to sharpen, it's availibility, i think 1095 is much more common than O1...
 
Valte2003 said:
I hear that people praise O1 tool steel and consider it one of the best avaible on the market,
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Anyone who says this doesn't know much about knife steel. O1 is a good steel but it's certainly not the best on the market. As far as 1095 vs O1 I can say that from my experience O1 holds an edge slightly longer. I don't know about strength as all of my knives are still in one piece. ;)
 
O1 is one of the superior low alloy carbon steel due to it composition, the hint of vanadium help in prevent grain growth at austenitizing phase, tungsten also add some wear resistance and help refining grain structure. And the most importance part, the high amount of manganese improve hardenbility by a long shot. With O1 you don't have to quench so fast as simple carbon steel like 1095 or W1.

O1 also three time more expensive than 1095 as raw material.

To make it short, O1 is better than 1095 in almost every aspect except if you aim for hamon/hardening line.

I fail too see how O1 would be consider as an overrate steel.
 
I have worked with both, 1095 might hold a slightly better edge but I cant tell any real difference but O-1 is much tougher and very easy to sharpen. but I think that O-1 is much better than 1095. 1095 is very hard to get full hardness out of and most production companies don't get to full hardness.
 
It's not over rated, 01 is good solid non stainless steel so it would depend on what one is looking for in a steel and a knife.

I would choose 01 over 1095 though as it's tougher and has better edge retention..

I would choose A2 over both of them though, especially for larger knives.
 
bronyblacksmith said:
I have worked with both, 1095 might hold a slightly better edge but I cant tell any real difference but O-1 is much tougher and very easy to sharpen. but I think that O-1 is much better than 1095. 1095 is very hard to get full hardness out of and most production companies don't get to full hardness.
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O-1 is not that much more expensive then 1095 maybe %50 more at most.
 
I see no reason to settle this. O1 and 1095 should coexist harmoniously, like little Peruvian children living peacefully next to New York street vendors.
 
I've used both, but O1 more. Here in England, most standard knife steel used by custom and beginner knives is O1 for its easy heat treating and overall performance.

The fact Ray Meats used O1 in his famous woodlore bushcraft knife is likely to make people want it too.

I've tried a pocket knife in 1095 in a pass around, had it for a week and it stropped nice and sharp. My kitchen knife is also 1095 and sharpens well and is more corrosion resistant than I expected.

I've had dozens of knives in O1 and a pocket knife, from an honest side I can't really tell much of a difference.
 
In my country O1 does cost 3 time of SK5 which is certificated very close to 1095 spring steel. O1 will cost me about $20 per kilogram while 1095 cost only $7.
 
Samon said:
I've used both, but O1 more. Here in England, most standard knife steel used by custom and beginner knives is O1 for its easy heat treating and overall performance.

The fact Ray Meats used O1 in his famous woodlore bushcraft knife is likely to make people want it too.

I've tried a pocket knife in 1095 in a pass around, had it for a week and it stropped nice and sharp. My kitchen knife is also 1095 and sharpens well and is more corrosion resistant than I expected.

I've had dozens of knives in O1 and a pocket knife, from an honest side I can't really tell much of a difference.
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And that's true.

Most people will never see the difference because the alloy content in the steels is so close percentage wise, in steels like 1095, 1080, 1075, 01 etc.

Move into the A2, 52100 and W2 range then the difference begins to show up with the alloy content.
 
I had a Blind Horse Bushcrafter in 01 and it was a very good knife. Held an edge for a LONG - LONG time. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another 01 knife.
 
O1 is neither an especially tough steel nor an especially wear resistant steel, and it has poor resistance to corrosion. Steels that exceed O1 in all three of those areas include A2, D2, CPM D2, 3V, M4, CPM 154, S30V and S35VN.

Where O1 truly excels is in ease of manufacture.
 
O-1 Tool Steel Typical Chemistry: C .95 Mn 1.20 Si .30 Cr .50 Va .20 W .50
CRA 1095 Typical Chemistry: C .90/1.04 Mn .60/.90

The addition of Vanadium alone would make O-1 a better steel. It also has about 2x the Manganese which means a finer grain structure, the Chromium gives it more wear resistance
 
Monofletch said:
I had a Blind Horse Bushcrafter in 01 and it was a very good knife. Held an edge for a LONG - LONG time. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another 01 knife.
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I've used mine on all sorts of hardwood and it never chips, or rolls and holds an edge great. The heat treat is about as good as it gets on their knives though.
 
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