Which steel is best for a knife ?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Which steel is best for a knife ?

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:22:40 PM EDT

If you were looking for a quality knife, one that will last, perform well and hold an edge....what would you buy ?
ATS-34, 154-cm etc...etc....

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:23:43 PM EDT

[#1]

tag

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:29:43 PM EDT

[#2]

S30v

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:31:05 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
S30v

+1. Used in Striders and Chris Reeves.

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:31:40 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
S30v

Big ass +1.

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:33:39 PM EDT

[#5]

D2
A2
S30v

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:35:40 PM EDT

[#6]

I would ignore the steel, it doesn’t matter… OK, it matters a lot. But it doesn’t matter to you. What matters to you is the skill of the knifemaker and the quality of his work.

Steel is pretty cheap compared to the cost of a quality knife. No quality maker will risk ruining his reputation to save a few cents by using cheaper steel. But that knifemaker knows what steels he can work with and what steels best achieve the results he wants. Besides, the quality of the heat treatment will be far more important than the kind of steel used (within reason.)

So, look around for a manufacturer or maker with a top reputation (not a top marketing department) and buy a knife from them. Whatever steel they use it’ll be up to the task.

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:41:15 PM EDT

[#7]

Depends on what your going to use it for. Whitout getting into specific types. A softer blade will sharpen much much quicker but dull at a faster rate.Harder steel will dull the very keen edge fast but stay reasoablly sharp a whole lot longer. I prefer a blade I can touch up quickly manny time to skin out a game animal.

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:41:38 PM EDT

[#8]

O-1 without a doubt, if one must have a stainless I prefer 154 CM and ATS 34 in that order.

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:42:38 PM EDT

[#9]

Demascus(sp?)

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:45:37 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Demascus(sp?)

Damascus ? Usually made out of softer metal but lately has been reborn by a few blade makers by using much harder material. I would love to own one of these.

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:46:22 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
S30v

Yes?

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:47:58 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Quoted:
S30v

+1. Used in Striders and Chris Reeves.

+2. Also used by Benchmade.

ETA: I would love to own a Chris Reeve Sebenza one day though. I cannot however justify their price given that the Benchmade is perfectly adequate, nay, more than...

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:54:26 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Demascus(sp?)

Damascus ? Usually made out of softer metal but lately has been reborn by a few blade makers by using much harder material. I would love to own one of these.

actully its made from a hard and a soft metal sort of kneeded together.

EDIT maybe not.

thats pattern welded steel

I really dont know what aim talking about

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:58:13 PM EDT

[#14]

1070 - 1090 for carbon steel.

S30V works well too.

Posted: 4/15/2006 9:59:37 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Demascus(sp?)

Damascus ? Usually made out of softer metal but lately has been reborn by a few blade makers by using much harder material. I would love to own one of these.

actully its made from a hard and a soft metal sort of kneeded together.

EDIT maybe not.

thats pattern welded steel

I really dont know what aim talking about

Really now? Never heard of that technique, care to elaborate?

ETA: I meant the spelling of said word, not the actual technique, hence the

.

Posted: 4/15/2006 10:00:16 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Demascus(sp?)

Damascus ? Usually made out of softer metal but lately has been reborn by a few blade makers by using much harder material. I would love to own one of these.

actully its made from a hard and a soft metal sort of kneeded together.

EDIT maybe not.

thats pattern welded steel

I really dont know what aim talking about

Really now? Never heard of that technique, care to elaborate?

I edited its before you posted

Posted: 4/15/2006 10:00:16 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
S30V works well too.

Why, thank you!

Posted: 4/15/2006 10:04:03 PM EDT

[#18]

S30V was designed for knives. Speaking of which one of the least expensive and a very nice knife for the money is the Spyderco Native. Wal-Mart sells them for $39.95. Great deal for the money.

I also like Benchmade and thier 154CM blades. I carry 1 of 3 knives depending on how I'm dressed. The above mentioned Spyderco, Benchmade 910 Stryker, or the Benchmade 5000 Presidio. I want to get a Benchmade 670 Apparition too.

Posted: 4/15/2006 10:37:46 PM EDT

[#19]

O-1
1095

Posted: 4/15/2006 10:41:11 PM EDT

[#20]

Tag.

Whatever the SOG SEAL Pup knives use seems to be pretty good.

Posted: 4/15/2006 11:11:19 PM EDT

[#21]

I prefer a high end stainless like S30V, 154CM, ATS34.

BTW, 154CM and ATS34 are essentially the same steel. 154CM is American and ATS34 is Japanese.

Posted: 4/15/2006 11:17:22 PM EDT

[#22]

154CM and ATS-34 are what I consider the standards by which other steels are judged.

As long as you STAY THE FUCK AWAY from 420 series or 440A/B series, you should be pretty good.

Posted: 4/16/2006 1:10:38 PM EDT

[#23]

Here is a Hunter ground from O-1,

Here is a small carry knife ground from 154CM

Posted: 4/16/2006 1:12:33 PM EDT

[#24]

Carbon steel…

Posted: 4/16/2006 1:16:46 PM EDT

[#25]

Posted: 4/16/2006 1:25:44 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
If you were looking for a quality knife, one that will last, perform well and hold an edge....what would you buy ?
ATS-34, 154-cm etc...etc....

I like S30V for folders, R.J. Martin is my favorite maker. They are plenty of great makers and a lot of high quality production knives, Benchmade for example. I like carbon steel and tool steels (A2, D2 etc) for combat field use; good shock resistance and easier sharpening. That being said, no matter what steel is used, if it doesn't have a good heat treatment, it is useless.

Posted: 4/16/2006 1:48:53 PM EDT

[#27]

well lets see now. i have a chris reeve jereboam in A-2 and a walter brend in D-2 and a randal mdl 14 in 0-1 and some gerbers in 440-c and a couple wraiths in AUS-8A. the A-2 sharpens easily and takes a damn nice edge as does the 440-c and aus-8a. the D-2 takes a super edge but wow what a time trying to get that edge back when it does dull up, but super strong stuff ! i use an INDIA stone to sharpen my knives. i try not to let them get so dull as to need to use a diamond stone. the AUS-8A seems to be a darn nice blend for strength and sharpenability and edge holding, along with the A-2. the 440-c needs a few more strokes on the stone but is the most rust resistant. the randal in 0-1 i've not used as yet but i'll give it to my son [marine] should he get sent overseas and see how it works for him. so actually any of those steels work just fine for me.

Posted: 4/16/2006 2:48:27 PM EDT

[#28]

That's a fine looking knife, by the way.

Quoted:
Here is a small carry knife ground from 154CM

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Which steel is best for a knife ?

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