Spyderco Forums

If you HAD to choose only one steel to live with in any folder handle you wanted for the next five years, what would it be and why?

To get the ball rolling -

I’d go for a K390 Manix 2 XL with some nice natural burlap micarta scales on it I’m a huge fan of Magnacut, but oh my goodness is K390 a joy to sharpen and it patinas beautifully! I could use that knife at work and home for almost any conceivable purpose, and the CBBL keeps it closed just as well as it keeps it open. What a knife!

Lots of good answers but for every situation I'd have to go with MagnaCut. I could get by with any of these steels though, there really aren't any wrong answers unless you're playing in salt water or plan to do heavy prying and batonning. For EDC pocket folder I'd have to take more care of some and pay closer attention to rust but I could make them all work.

CruWear.

I picked Cruwear only because I’ve yet to actually try Magnacut (nor is it offered in a knife I’d want to carry exclusively for 5 years).

I am still going with 4v, but give me a bit more time to continue my Magnacut journey and that answer may change.

If I don't get to sharpen, definitely Maxamet. If I need the blade to stand up to salt water or other corrosion, definitely Magnacut. For the overall balance, I think it has to be 4v for me.

I think I'm fairly lonely in this, but I find that I prefer the balance of features in 4v to Cruwear. I'm not saying Cruwear isn't a great steel, and we're all lucky to have this kind of problem--choosing between a whole bunch of really good options--but I just prefer 4v overall.

Haunted House wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 7:59 am

I picked Cruwear only because I’ve yet to actually try Magnacut (nor is it offered in a knife I’d want to carry exclusively for 5 years).

I hear you. Magnacut Manix 2 could push me over into the 'all magnacut, all the time' camp, but I still can't get that one.

Magnacut would be my first choice, followed very, very closely by Cruwear. Cruwear in my pocket right now, in fact.

Of course, there are no bad steels on that list. Any would do in fact.

i don't have enough experience with magnacut yet, but i assume it would be my choice if it holds up to corrosion as well as expected. i will test it much harder when the manix lw comes out.

lc200n is fine, but i've found it to be lacking slightly to h1 when it comes to toughness in serrations. i like the steel a lot. in fact, i'm carrying two knives in lc200n today (spydiechef, caribbean sheepsfoot se). it just wouldn't win for the only steel i'd want for the next five years.


i would choose se h1 and i'd probably stick with my pacific salt. the manix is my favorite knife and i'd miss it a lot. the caribbean is often the knife i carry if i only want to carry one knife. however, the se h1 pac salt is the one knife i wouldn't want to be without. it can do everything the others can do and some things they can't. it works for self-defense, emergencies, workouts, swimming, hiking, etc. and it can ride iwb for consistent and constant access regardless of the conditions with no worry about maintenance. it's also super easy to touch up at the end of the day, or even on the go with a small pocket ceramic stone. i always say the manix is my favorite knife, but the pac salt gets the most carry because i always have it. always.

ladybug93 wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 11:14 am

lc200n is fine, but i've found it to be lacking slightly to h1 when it comes to toughness in serrations.

Just wondering if you're testing these at the same edge inclusive angle? The H1 Salts I've had were very thick at the edge, especially if you're comparing them to a Caribbean. With the way serrations are ground at different angles it's something to consider when trying to compare steels in SE.

Evil D wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 12:03 pm

ladybug93 wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 11:14 am

lc200n is fine, but i've found it to be lacking slightly to h1 when it comes to toughness in serrations.

Just wondering if you're testing these at the same edge inclusive angle? The H1 Salts I've had were very thick at the edge, especially if you're comparing them to a Caribbean. With the way serrations are ground at different angles it's something to consider when trying to compare steels in SE.

thank you. i meant to mention that. i also prefer the stout hollow grind of the h1 salts over the thinner ffg lc200n versions for an emergency/everyday folder if i could only choose one knife for the next five years.

For practical reasons (mainly corrosion resistance and a practical set of overall characteristics) I'd pick MagnaCut, but I'd be dreaming of 15V and K390 the whole time.

From tougher to higher edge retention, my understanding is the leading edge in obtainium is:

Z-Tuff...3V...Cru-wear...M4...K390...10V...15V...Maxamet
....LC200N.......MagnaCut...............................

From these, steels in the happy middle ground between requiring more frequent stropping/resharpening, and requiring occasional reprofiling of chipped edges (on diamond or CBN) include Cru-wear, MagnaCut, K390, and 10V, and of these, only one is very corrosion resistant. That said, while MagnaCut is excellent for EDC and humid environments (like our pockets), 3V and slightly lower edge retention stainless steels like 14C28N, AEB-L and LC200N have advantages in fixed blades subject to impact stress, and 10V or K390 for heavy use folders. I imagine woodworkers would love a complete set of chisels, planes, and carving knives in either.

Not sure why much of the industry settled upon M390/20CV/204P as the std steel in high end collectable knives. XHP & S35VN just seem like better all-around steels, striking a better balance between thougness and edge retention, prior to the arrival of MagnaCut.

S110V…. Actually none of my top 3 are on that list… XHP and SPY27 in that order….

A MagnaCut Stretch 2 XL PE Salt would make me give up my OG Pacific Salt PE as the "only one."

To be clear, the Pac Salt is not my favorite Spydie. I like plenty of others better but, if only one, it would have to be the Pac Salt. It's large, LW and rust-free. A Stretch 2 XL Salt would be even larger and lighter and, for me, more more ergonomic.

If I didn't need salt-water resistance, I would choose the same knife in K390.

Zdp 189, Hap 40 or M4 for myself. Those have performed the best for me.
I like all the steels for various reasons.

Really I think everyone seems a little over concerned with what steel is the best.

Manix 2 XL, in 4V or Magnacut, depending on how important corrosion resistance is. I'm really liking the 4V on my St. Nick's M2XL.

I don't have enough experience with VascoWear yet, but it could potentially be a good middle ground between 4V and MC.

I don't know much about 15V at the moment, but if it's decently stain resistant, that could be my choice.

K390 is nice, but I could never keep my dragonfly from rusting in my pocket, so it doesn't qualify as an edc steel for me.

A bit early to ask this imo. Very few have had a try at magnacut yet. I put a vote in for cruwear

Magnacut (& K390) for me.

Rex45

Easy. H1 PE. Does everything I need and only requires sharpening a few times per year.