What is your favorite steel?

[The Mastiff]

I'll start this one off. I'm informally keeping track for curiosity sake.

Folders: A close tie between VG10, the benchmark standard, and ZDP 189
The reasons are probably pretty obvious so I'll not explain. They were both that good. A close second is BG42. VG10 is the most evenly balanced of all of them, with ZDP being, well, ZDP.



Fixed blade: So far, Blue super steel. It rusts easily, but that tungston (W) of up to 2.50% and the high carbon levels make this just what I like. At about RC62. I strongly encourage those of you to give it a try if you get the chance. I wish I could find a spyderco class folder made of it. Second is M2. Please note I haven't yet tried 9V, 10V, T1, or the other heavyweights. A2 and 52100 are real, real good for what they are too. Joe

[smcfalls13]

For a folder, I prefer VG-10. I've had good experiences with it. It's easy for me to sharpen, holds its edge long enough for me, and never seems to rust. That and its got a cool looking wavy surface texture most of the time.

For Balis, it depends on the maker, but I typically focus impact toughness. My Balis are toys, not tools, so their edge retention is secondary to toughness, because I drop them more often than I cut something with them. I still use them periodically when the mood strikes me, so edge retention must be good, but its not the priority. I prefer the ATS-34/154CM and comparable steels. S30V is acceptable only with certain makers I know can actually treat it properly. It HAS to be stainless though, because sometimes stopping the bleeding takes precedence over cleaning off the blood

For fixed blades, I prefer 1095 or 5160, depending on the size. Simple is better for me on fixed blades. Both are relatively low maintenance steels that are easy to sharpen and hard to damage.

[The Mastiff]

Thank you smcalls 13. Excellent choices for yours. I hadn't even thought about Bali's and their particular needs. 1095 is also a great all around steel. I also like it in folding knives. I grew up using 1095 slipjoints and learned about knife care and sharpening from them. Now it's more rare in folding knives with companies like Moore Maker selling them at a premium price. Anyway, thanks. Joe

[Axlis]

I like VG-10, had no problems with it except for a little staining, but I can live with it.

I like H1, it's stood the test of neglect, and sharpens up mighty easy.

I like s30v for it's look and it's edge holding, but VG-10 sharpens up easier for me.

I like ZDP, but I don't use it much anymore. It's edge holding IS outstanding.

[smcfalls13]

Thank you smcalls 13. Excellent choices for yours. I hadn't even thought about Bali's and their particular needs. 1095 is also a great all around steel. I also like it in folding knives. I grew up using 1095 slipjoints and learned about knife care and sharpening from them. Now it's more rare in folding knives with companies like Moore Maker selling them at a premium price. Anyway, thanks. Joe

I love 1095, but I'm too afraid to use it in a folder. I'm not that diligent with cleaning/oiling, so a folder with non stainless steel would rust in my care. Fixed blades are simpler for me take care of with my negligent ways

[JD Spydo]

My favorite blade steels are ZDP-189, VG-10, ATS-55. I carry knives daily that have those steels and so far I am very pleased. I have heard people say things not so good about ATS-55 but I have been carrying a big Dyad for almost 2 years. I have had excellent results with ATS-55.

I am however a bit disappointed that the Great Spyder Factory has yet to come out with a folder made with CPM-M4. I went to a seminar put on by Crucible at the Blade show in Atlanta last summer. I was very impressed with the information they shared.

One steel that Mastiff mentioned was the Hitachi Super Blue Steel. I have had woodworkers tell me about chisels made with that steel and I have wanted a folder made with it for some time. Again I was very impressed with the guys I met from Crucible. I talked to their head metallurgist and one of the marketing guys for about an hour. They truly want to be a serious player in the knife industry.

[smcfalls13]

I am however a bit disappointed that the Great Spyder Factory has yet to come out with a folder made with CPM-M4. I went to a seminar put on by Crucible at the Blade show in Atlanta last summer. I was very impressed with the information they shared.

From everything I've read/heard about that steel, it's supposed to be incredible, but unless I'm mistaken, it's not stainless.

*Expect a sweeping generalization based on pure speculation*

The vast majority of folding knives are made with stainless steel, and I think it's partially due to the maintenance issue. High carbon steel rusts very easily, and on a folding knife, it's very difficult to get access to all the hidden parts to oil them. A non stainless folding knife is going to require very diligent maintenance, which I don't think the average knife buyer is willing or able to do(theres the generalization)

Now there are some of you who grew up with old fashioned high carbon slipjoints, and you all are well aware of how to take care of them, but the market trend is toward stainless, and many relatively new knife buyers are not familiar with high carbon folders. In our nice modern world of plastic in just about everything, low maintenance is more popular. People don't like Glocks for their accuracy, they like them for the simple reason that you can lose them in a swamp, find them 10 years later, and they'll still fire.

Yes, probably most of this forum knows to properly oil a knife, but you have to remember, we're a very small proportion of annual sales. I think a non stainless folder would have very limited appeal(it would be an afi knife).

A non stainless steel would also limit who would even be willing to purchase the knife. In the summer time here, we get 100% humidity, I don't care how well oiled a non stainless knife is, it will rust within an hour, and it's just not feasible to carry a non stainless blade.

Never really thought of myself as pro-stainless and anti-high-carbon, but it looks like I am...

This is all just my opinion mixed with wildly inaccurate assumptions, have your grain of salt ready

[Halfneck]

Folders - I have been just fine with VG-10, ATS-34, and 154-CM

Large Fixed Blades - I prefer a Carbon Steel for my choppers, 1095, 5160, and L6.

Small Fixed Blades - varies, but usually a mix of the above with D2 thrown in.

[spydutch]

I only have folders so in order of preferance:

1. VG10
2. H1
3. S30V
4. ZDP 189

[Pete1977]

Joe-

I only carry folders normally so I can only comment on the blade steels I've experienced with them.

My favorite I would have to say is a tie between VG-10/H-1.

The majority of my working knives have blades of either VG-10 or H-1, and I find them both easy steels to maintain. Both have the abilty to retain their edge for a good amount of time and are easy to sharpen back up to a scary sharp edge.

Second, I would have to say is AUS-8/AUS-8A. I like this steel a lot. it is a great compromise between toughness, strength, and affordability. I have found that flat ground, a blade of this steel is top notch.

My third favorite steel would have to be S30V. S30V is a strong steel and for long term use between sharpening, with occasional touch ups, you can't go wrong. It is fairly corrosion resistant, strong, takes a wicked sharp edge with little maintenance and holds it well.

other steels I have found useful for a working knife are 440C, 1095, D2, and ATS-55. I have no real experience with ZDP-189 and I've only done light cutting with Fallkniven's SGPS.

pete

[jaislandboy]

no favoritism here.....my "real world testing" is mostly cardboard boxes/opening clam packs....and I've had Satisfaction using AUS8, VG10, S30V, 440C, 8Cr13MoV, 13c26 (kershaw's JYD), D-2 (Dozier K2, Ontario TAK, Rat3), BG42, zdp189, 12c27 (i've got some Bark River's), H-1....
For a smaller pocket knife, I prefer edge retention to be better than AUS6....but on the Spydersaw the AUS6 has impressed me with its toughness and seems a logical steel for its intended application....also, given a choice I go for the stainless flavor if possible as I hate rust/corrosion!.....

[bigcat]

I prefer ATS-55 in all my knives, especially in the serrated edge. It just seems to be more durable to me.

BigCat