What are your go-to knife steels?

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DangerZone98

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Dec 7, 2019
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Are knife steels an essential criteria in selecting your next purchase? Which steels are your favorite? Are budget and high-end steels important in your collection?
 
Just something I am learning, the basics still work. Good old carbon steel or a good stainless, at least for my needs. I find that my folders in Sandvik do just fine. I like a few higher end steels, but it won't stop me from grabbing a basic steel, even my Bucks in 420HC. I think it depends on what the user has planned for them, and how they use their knives. Sometimes we get too caught up in the latest and greatest steel and forget that there are still good affordable steels out there without having to spend the amount of a car......or truck.... payment. Just my two cents. Interesting topic, keep them coming.
 
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I like steels that hold a good edge but I do not like steels that are difficult to sharpen. With some of those steels the trade off between edge holding and difficulty of sharpening is not worth it.

S30V
S90V
XHP
BD1N
K390
Vg-10
13C26
52100
and the mystery SAK steel

These are the ones I usually gravitate towards.
 
The steel is usually the last criteria that I look for. Design, ergonomics, overall quality, maker’s reputation and warranty are far more important to me then the chemical composition of their raw blade material.

N2s
 
So far, I'm pretty happy with whatever steel the knife comes with, as long as it's from a respectable and reputable manufacturer. Really, when I buy a knife, the steel is a ways down on the list of priorities. However, if a knife comes with a "lesser" steel and another comes with a "better" steel, then I will usually gravitate to the better one.

That being said, most of my current pile of knives is s30v and I'm pretty satisfied with that. Then again I'm satisfied with Tru-sharp, SAK steel and 420HC as well.
 
Depends on maker but for me:

VG10 from Spyderco I buy often.

S30V from Benchmade and Spyderco I buy a lot.

S35VN from CRK or Cold steel

CPM20CV/M390/CTS204P from Spyderco or Benchmade is what I usually plan purchases around. This is my well rounded steel of choice.

Benchmade or Spyderco M4 for hard use knives.

The more exotic stuff really gets me excited but I don’t buy often: Maxamet, S90V, and S110V.

I will not go below VG-10 from Spyderco. Once I dabbled in M390 and M4, buck and Kershaw was ruined for me. But I’ll never forget where I started (leek and skyline).
 
not2sharp said:
The steel is usually the last criteria that I look for. Design, ergonomics, overall quality, maker’s reputation and warranty are far more important to me then the chemical composition of their raw blade material.

N2s
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That’s an interesting take, N2S. While steel is important, it would be remiss of the user to ignore other factors like fit and finish, ergonomics, and maker’s reputation.
 
I like to try different steels but I have been very often disappointed by the real performance increase.
I want a “good steel” but I don’t mind anymore about the steel trends
My go to EDC is a CRK and a SAK, so I think S35vn and Victorinox steel qualify as my go to steels ;)
 
VG 10, D2, 14C28, and 154cm make up the bulk of my knives.

I generally pass on _Cr_MoV and 4xx stuff. Buck 420HC is acceptable due to Mr Bos and his crews heat treat. SAKs steel is ok.

I have a few S30V and S35VN.

I have NO knives with : M390/CPM20V, 3V, M4, Maxamet, Nitro V, S90V, S110V, to name a few.

I'm a $40 - $120 kind of guy. I thought about a few specials with *super* steels like the Bareknuckle 20CV for $100 and M390 Dividend for $77 but passed since I didn't like the design.

I think the Ontario Rat 1 in D2, Delica/Endela/Endura in VG10, and Cold Steel Recon 1 in S35VN are good examples of good steel + design + value.

No Sebenzas, Shiro, Olamics, etc. and certainly customs for me. I'm ok with that.
 
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I am a sucker for the “latest and greatest” but even a super steel isn’t any good if it’s not heat treated correctly!
M390/20cv is excellent blade steel. Probably my favorite. My Carothers Delta 3v is pretty tough too.
 
jideta said:
not a steelophile
1095 works great for me
in fact my current favorite smith uses found objects to make my blades (rasps, old farm stuff, etc.)
unless you gonna put them side by side and do tests who cares?
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That sounds cool. I like 1095 too. I’m a huge fan of repurposing old stuff like spring steel from vehicles into knives like khukuris for example. They probably won’t be as optimal as fancy M390 steel fresh from the factory, but they do get the job done reliably. As a knife user, that’s mostly what I’m looking for as I tear into cardboard and binding. Menacingly.
 
My decision on which knife is next.in my future doesn't usually go to steel until a few other boxes have been ticked! That being said, Fallkniven's Lam CoS steel is probably my favorite one! Holds a great edge, sharpens up easily and if you're into stropping your knives it gets laser sharp with some TLC on a strop!! To each his own!!!IMG_20200412_195159.jpg
 
I couldn't tell you what steel is in any knife I have except for the few that I made myself.
 
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