Rank Your Steels!

T

tambrico

Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
65
so I thought it would be fun if we could come up with a ranking for knife steels using a tier system. I don't have experience with all of these steels, but from reading on here, I think I can come up with an accurate chart. Feel free to add to the list, disagree with mine, and of course, make your own:

God Tier:
  • A1
  • O1
  • CPM 3V
  • 52100
  • CPM S30V
  • ZDP-189
  • M4
  • INFI
  • 5160
  • BG-42
  • L6

High Tier:
  • 154CM
  • ATS-34
  • VG-10
  • 1095
  • 440V
  • CPM 154
  • D2
  • W2
  • 3G

Mid Tier:
  • 440C
  • 440B
  • AUS-8A
  • 8Cr13MoV
  • 8Cr14MoV
  • 9Cr14Mov
  • Sandvik 13C26

Low Tier:
  • 440A
  • 420HC
  • AUS-6
  • Sandvik 12C27

Shit Tier:
  • AUS-4
  • 420
  • 420J2
  • 410
  • Mild Steel
  • Cast Iron
 
i havent used enough steels to disagree. of the limited steels i've used i like them in this order:

s30v
vg10
14c28n
440c
aus8


you could also probably throw 1095 in somewhere too because it gets used so much. maybe top mid or low high idk. it's kind of a tweener i think. because i feel like it's better than about all the mids but not as good as the highs. but i dont have much experience with it so maybe someone else can weigh in on it.
 
This is what I've used, and my "ranking" overall. No specific criteria (edge retention, corrosion resistance, etc.) mentioned, just an overall rank. From best to worst...

VG-10
S30V
154CM
D-2
BG-42
ATS-55
ZDP-189
ATS-34
O-1
1095 carbon
A-1
440C
AUS-8
8Cr13MoV
8Cr14MoV
9Cr14Mov
Sandvik 13C26
440B
420HC (except for Buck's, which I'd put between and 440C and AUS-8)
Sandvik 12C27
440A
AUS-6
AUS-4
420J2
 
Stainless:

S110V
S90V
BG-42
ZDP-189
S30V
VG-10
...

CS:

M4
M2
CPM-D2
3V
O1 (forged)
A2
...
 
To be honest, I don't pay that much attention to the steel as I do who makes the knife and what reputation the knife has earned from users that I respect.

I put more faith on well-respected knife makers (and brands) and let them choose what steel for their knives.
 
Whatever holds the edge well, resharpens fine and doesn't wallet rape me on payday...

Keep'em handy, keep'em sharp!
 
Based on my experience on steels I've used:

Excellent:

CPM S30V
D2
CPM154
VG-10

Good:

1095
440C
AUS-8A

Regular:

8Cr13MoV
8Cr14MoV
9Cr14Mov
Sandvik 13C26

Poor:

440A
420HC
AUS-6
Sandvik 12C27

Bad:

AUS-4
420
420J2
 
So far,

VG-10
154CM
1095
14C28N
8Cr13MoV
9Cr13MoV
Buck 420HC
AUS 8

That said, despite being on the bottom of my list, AUS 8 has still has been an impressive steel. Says a lot about VG-10 and 154CM's quality.
 
for me I would classify them differently stainless and non stainless. I like carbon for fixed blades b/c extra toughness and wear resist is good, and they can be easily cleaned. but for folders I like stainless.

M4 is the best hands down

for atainles s90v is probly my favorite
 
Nope.
I don't rank steels because what I want to do with a knife changes the alloys in which I am interested.

There's some that are tough and make good choppers.
There's some that hold an edge a very long time and make good skinners.
There's others that take a very fine edge and are good for detail working.
There's some with extreme corrosion resistance and are good around water.

Can't rank them unless you know what you want to do with them. There are no "bad" alloys. There's some that are better for some purposes than others.
 
knarfeng said:
Nope.
I don't rank steels because what I want to do with a knife changes the alloys in which I am interested.

There's some that are tough and make good choppers.
There's some that hold an edge a very long time and make good skinners.
There's others that take a very fine edge and are good for detail working.
There's some with extreme corrosion resistance and are good around water.

Can't rank them unless you know what you want to do with them. There are no "bad" alloys. There's some that are better for some purposes than others.
Click to expand...

DING!DING!DING!DING!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a WINNER!!

knarfeng, step up and take a bow, please!
 
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Carbon,
SR101
CPM-M4
CPM-D2
A2
D2
O1
1095

Stainless,
S90V
ZDP
S30V
N690co
VG-10
kershaw 14c
AUS-8
buck 420hc (better than most think)
 
You could make a ranking system according to the different characteristics of steel...
Which would be virtually the same thing as looking at the spec sheets available on Crucible's website.
 
Highest to lowest:

Folders:

S30V
VG10
154CM/440C (tied)
Whatever is in Victorinox SAKs.
8CR13MOV
AUS8
420HC (From Buck)

Fixed Blades:

1095
440C
 
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