Steel

[Ankerson]

Yeah, but I can afford to buy TWO knives in VG-10, so I don't have to worry about removing too much.

Seriously, it's not like VG-10 is just "easier to sharpen" than the likes of S90V, at least to me. It takes me several times as long to get a satisfactory edge on one of these really high Vanadium jobbies. VG-10 is never, ever more than 5 minutes. Maybe 10-15 strokes a side on each grit.

I understand, dude: you're a connoisseur. It was worth it to you to put in the hours learning how to tame burly steel. It's not even remotely worth it for me. I also don't feel like owning a Ferrari, even though it's clearly a superior machine to my Mazda M-3. But for people like me, a low maintenance burden is very, very high on our list of requirements. You can belittle me for thinking that way, but I would prefer you did not.

It really doesn't take more than seconds to touch up steels like S90V and S110V..

An example:


I use S110V @ 65 HRC in the kitchen.... And I went 6 months without touching the edge, that's using it pretty much everyday and it was still very sharp, would still slice through TP easy. It finally started to lose some bite so I touched up the edge on a Spyderco fine ceramic file..... That's freehand, not a sharpmaker... It took me all of 10 seconds, like 3 passes on each side and it was screaming sharp again.

So if I have to touch that edge maybe twice a year, if that and it might take all of 20 seconds total edge maintenance...

[Ankerson]

As an added note.

Ferrari isn't really a better car than a Mazda 3 if one looks at the high maintenance and expense of maintaining that Ferrari as people who own supercars can tell you.

Sure they are great cars when they aren't in the shop getting tuned and worked on.

Doesn't really relate to knives in anyway though, the car thing really never does because the most expensive cars really take a lot more maintenance to keep them on the road than the cheaper ones do and at a lot more expense.

[phillipsted]

I love them all equally, like they were my own children. Well, maybe not 440A or 1030...

TedP

[michaelm466]

Of the steels I have, S90V, 20CP, and M390 due to edge retention and M4 for harder use. I haven't tried anything with better edge retention, but look forward to it, will probably have to go custom (S110V, K294, K390, 10V).

[Blerv]

It really doesn't take more than seconds to touch up steels like S90V and S110V..

An example:


I use S110V @ 65 HRC in the kitchen.... And I went 6 months without touching the edge, that's using it pretty much everyday and it was still very sharp, would still slice through TP easy. It finally started to lose some bite so I touched up the edge on a Spyderco fine ceramic file..... That's freehand, not a sharpmaker... It took me all of 10 seconds, like 3 passes on each side and it was screaming sharp again.

So if I have to touch that edge maybe twice a year, if that and it might take all of 20 seconds total edge maintenance...

Exactly. And the fact that the more material you remove, assuming you're not reprofiling, the more obtuse the grind becomes.

[rodloos]

I guess favorite = ones I carry and use the most, so the ones I'm carrying today are
M390 (Millie)
H1 (Ladybug hawkbill SE)
ZDP-189 clad in 420J (Caly 3)
ZDP-189 (Ladybug)
VG10 (Poliwog)

H1 may not hold an edge as long, but it lasts long enough for me to finish whatever I'm cutting up, and gets super-sharp very easily, not to mention no worries about rust if I don't get a chance to clean the blade afterwords.

[Joshua J.]

CPM Rex121 at 70Rc...

No I don't have any, but I love what I see on the charts.

[Rayd]

I'm not that picky about blade steels. As long as its not a bitch to sharpen and doesn't dull quickly I'm happy.
But I'll always choose a beautiful damascus blade over everything else.

[C.L.L 97]

So far S30V(best steel I've used) it has great edge-retention, very corrosion resistant, it's not to hard to sharpen, doesn't roll or chip under alot of pressure.
But I can't wait to try out: cpm-m4,m390,cts-XHP,20cp, many more

[Ferris Wheels]

I have to say there is something about m4 that really does it for me and I love a steel that can take a natural patina. A natural patina on a knife tells me the owner doesn't mind using their knife.

[Spook410]

I have several small utility fixed blades in CPM 154 (made by A.B. Schaller in ABQ, NM) scattered around the place. They may not match the M390 Mule in standing up to overt abuse but they sharpen up very nicely and I've found them to maintain their sharpness quite well. When cost is considered, I think CPM 154 is hard to beat.

[A.P.F.]

The steels that have stood out for me are -

VG-10
S30V
N690Co
BG-42 and
ZDP-189

Of course, I own many other types, but the above are what I use the most. They all take an excellent edge and keep it long enough for me.

[Anonymous]

VG-10 because it's the only steel I've owned besides Aus-8, lol.

[arjay18]

I like m390 and 20CP. VG-10 is also great since it's so easy to keep sharp. I have a love hate relationship with ZDP-189 I like I could get very low angles and get a laser but it's not good for heavy duty work since it's chippy even at 40 degrees inclusive.

[DedRok]

I'd say my favorite steel is 154CM, VG-10 or S30V.

Most of these are/were common steels on popular Spyderco knives, but I really appreciate the attributes of these steels at the value Spyderco can offer them. They won't rust out on you, easy to sharpen, and keep a good edge.

I enjoy maintaining blades, so its no problem if I have to sharpen them more often than other steels. My blades are always razor sharp!

[maa14]

Like I said, M390 is my favorite but I really like VG-10 also. The price of M390 is the only thing I don't like about it. This is one of the reasons that I like VG-10, it is fairly cheap, takes an edge eaisly, holds that edge for a pretty long time, and usually rolls instead of chips so I can eaisly bring the edge back with a strop. VG-10 is very similar in proformance to 154-CM so same goes for that steel only it in the usa instead of Japan.

[Sonny]

My favorite is S90V. It will last quite a while, since I can't bring myself to even take it out of the box. I use knives with 20CP and M390, and understand that they are nearly the equal of S90v, but S90v is that holy Grail, ya know.
And then, my expensive knives use S30V and S35VN. Go figure. Nice compromise, I suppose.

[Ankerson]

My favorite is S90V. It will last quite a while, since I can't bring myself to even take it out of the box. I use knives with 20CP and M390, and understand that they are nearly the equal of S90v, but S90v is that holy Grail, ya know.
And then, my expensive knives use S30V and S35VN. Go figure. Nice compromise, I suppose.

I use my Para 2 in S90V, but my S90V Military doesn't get used much at all, I keep it in the box.

[Jet B]

I'm really impressed with my Military in M390.

That steel just keeps going, and going, and going...

[Sht]

I'd say it's m4 now & I would love to see some kitchen knives made of it too. But if your buying a spyderco your going to get a good steel no matter what. Worst case it 8cr13mov?