O1 vs A2

A

adimo

Joined
Apr 13, 2015
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I know it's an old theme and I also know there is a load of threads on this. Still ...

I am looking at the Landi LT Bushcrafter that I assume is made with L.T. Wright's assistance. I really want one just because I like the design a lot and hope it works as well as it looks. I can get it in O1 or in A2, but I can't decide. Personally, I am inclined to prefer a bit more rust resistance and edge holding, so this should answer my question. On the other hand, a lot of bushcraft people prefer O1 and they must have a reason.

I have no idea how O1 or A2 behave, I have no blades in those steels, I do have 1095, 1096 CroVan, D2, 440C, 154CM, M690, VG10, CPM S30V, CPM 3V. (I obviously don't need another knife but I do want the Landi because ... My fellow addicts will hopefully understand.)
 
All of my "bushcraft" knives are A2. I like how easy it is to sharpen, I like the patina, I just like it!
 
Never tried A2, but I have a custom Kephart in O1 by Mark Hill. It is a great knife, to be honest, and he is known for a top notch heat treat, which should always be taken into account!

Would be interested also to hear from members who have used both.
 
Go with a2. O1 is a step up from 1095 and 1095 is good. A2 is a step up form O1.

That said, I have a mora 137 that destroys wood. It’s O1 but at a higher hardness than you usually find it. 62 I think?
 
Thank you all for confirming my bias. I guess I will go with the A2 and see how it performs compared with the other knives in the collection. I do want it in a custom blade that is economical enough to fit my budget. I am still looking around for the most likely candidate while I wait for my tax return to be processed (I feel very guilty to want another knife, so money back from the government is a good incentive).
 
ace said:
Assuming both are heat treated well. A2 is tougher, more wear resistant and has better corrosion resistance. The only benefit to O1 is that it is easier to sharpen.
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Was going to say exactly that. Looks like ace has got it all covered.
 
LT Wright's A2 is abit tougher with a slight atvantage in edge retention ... but I will say it can be alot harder to sharpen ... it may just be from their heat treat ... but if you don't mind sharpening LT Wright's A2 is good stuff ... not that their 01 is in anyway a bad choice ... I like the ease of touch ups and I lean towards 01 in LT Wright offerings ...

just personal preference ...
 
like both myself. have some cold steels in o1 and a cmftw(R.I.P.) and couple blackjacks in a2. I prefer a2 a bit but wouldnt pass over a good o1. find both easy to keep sharp. ow a tad easier but both very easy. a2 doesnt rust as quickly but still does. havent pushed any past normal cutting use so cant comment on toughness but charts I've seen seem to give a2 an advantage.
 
A2 is the tougher steel. O1 is generally easier to sharpen than A2, especially at higher RC levels, like 60 or 61. Both can have very good edge-holding, for carbon steels, tho nowhere near as good as something like ZDP-189 at 64RC! BUT, as many have said, heat treat is more important than steel choice. I'd rather have a blade in O1 with a good heat-treat than an identical blade in A2 with a mediocre heat-treat. Randall uses O1, and they didn't become legendary because of a poor, or even mediocre, heat treatment.
 
A2 has lots of advantages and I do not find it hard to sharpen, actually fairly easy these days. It is a better all around steel than O1.
Everything I have seen, A2 is tougher, has more wear resistance, and more corrosion resistance than O1.

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justjed said:
A2 is the tougher steel. O1 is generally easier to sharpen than A2, especially at higher RC levels, like 60 or 61. Both can have very good edge-holding, for carbon steels, tho nowhere near as good as something like ZDP-189 at 64RC! BUT, as many have said, heat treat is more important than steel choice. I'd rather have a blade in O1 with a good heat-treat than an identical blade in A2 with a mediocre heat-treat. Randall uses O1, and they didn't become legendary because of a poor, or even mediocre, heat treatment.
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Then there's Scott Gossman using a lot of A2 in his legendary/bet your life on, knives.
 
I have knives in both steels and prefer A2. It seems more resistant to dings if you hit hard objects with it on accident.
 
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