Knife Steel and Manufacturer Poll

[socalspyder]

What do you all consider the top 3 Knife steels used for blades? Based on Strength, edge retention, durability. Also who do you name as the top 5 knife manufacturers?



I'd go with:

1. D-2

2. VG-10

3. ats-34/ 154CM



Knife Co.'s



1. Benchmade

2. MOD

3. Microtech

4. Emerson

5. Seki-Cut



* I don't know where to put Spyderco yet, I have one on order and then I can review my initial polling.

What do you all think?

[vampyrewolf]

Steel:
1> 440V
2> VG-10
3> ATS-55

Companies:
1> Spyderco
2> Benchmade(I'd buy them except for price)
3> MicroTech
4> CRKT
5> Leatherman

Don't even ask my opinion on Gerber or ColdSteel. I've only managed to break one knife, a Gerber(under field use, broke the pivot)... The coldsteel serrations aren't worth putting on. My ReadyEdge has a NEVERSHARP edge on it, and has now become part of my camping stuff. The serrations are now done with files and the dremel, and it works for the magnesium firestarter.

[sc_rebel1957]

#1 Steel-VG-10 by a mile #2 ATS-34 #3 154 CM. Companies #1 Again by a mile Spyderco #2 Benchmade # 3 Paragon (try 1 before you knock it) #4 CRKT for the money a well made knife # 5 Microtech ( only have 1 Socom) love it! just my opinion though i think you will be well satisfied with your Spyderco Ron

[Buddahair]

My favorite steel is aus-8, because it holds a decent edge and is ridiculously easy to sharpen. I would rather sharpen my knife more often and take 1 or 2 minutes than struggle with a harder steel like ats-34. (I realy suck at sharpening, I know, I'm pathetic.)
I can't wait to try a knife with vg-10, as I heard that isn't too difficult to sharpen and it holds an edge for a long time.
Back to the topic, the best companies IMO, are:
1. Spyderco
2. Tops knives
3. Benchmade
-Blair

"It's the quiet ones you gotta worry about." "What, land of the free? who ever told you that is your enemy." -rage against the machine

[J Smith]

Steels
1.440V
2.VG10
3.AUS 10
Companies
1.Spyderco
2.Benchmade
3.MOD
4.MT
5.SOG

JEFF .............Sooooo I see the internet is on the computer now.-Homer Simpson

[glockman99]

3 steels:

VG-10
CPM-440V
AUS-8A (440C)

5 knife companys:

Spyderco (Of course!...Chinook, Ayoob...)
SOG (My SOG Trident is EXCELLENT!)
Buck (The Nighthawk is an excellent value!)
Camillus ('Cause they've been here forever!)
Cold Steel (Good knives at a good price.)

Dann Fassnacht Aberdeen, WA glockman99@hotmail.com ICQ: 53675663

Edited 'cause I listed 5 steels, rather than the requested 3...(I NEVER was any good at math...). <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Edited by - glockman99 on 9/5/2002 11:28:58 AM

[Ted]

Steels:
1) 440V (keeps such a good edge)
2) GIN-1 (so easy to sharpen)
3) VG-10 (because everybody says so <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> )

Company's
1) Spyderco
2) EKA (they made the only good camping folder)
3) Buck (classic 110, my first big knife purchase)
4) Leatherman (it started my addiction to tools/knifes and they make quality products
5) ... uuhhh, don't have any other brands...

[Blade Santa Cruz]

OK, here goes:

Steels:

S30V - By FAR the best; the only one designed and developed specifically for cutlery applications.

D2 - Just keeps on cutting. A tool stell that does require a little care, but boy, does it take an edge.

Talonite - Not a steel, but a cobalt alloy. Absolutely corrosion immune, requires NO care and a great cutter that's very easy to sharpen. An ultimate blade material - as long as you stay away from hard things like staples, hard woods, or even big bones.

Knife Companies:

Spyderco - Intelligent designs, very innovative, great value, unsurpassed variety.

Camillus - Some great knives at very fair prices. State-of-the-art materials and designs, fine worksmanship. Their Cuda Maxx is the king of big production folders.

Chris Reeves - The quality of their knives is legendary; their prices approach that of customs. You get what you pay for. Enough said.

The other manufacturers vary with some hits and misses. None stand out from the pack like the three above.

[socalspyder]

I agree that Chris Reeve's designs are very cool...I wish I had one...or all of them...Anyhow Still awaiting my Howard Viele

***If you want a REALLY good deal on one right now---go to Knifecenter and look under the Spyderco clearance section they are going for under $80.....I thought that might interest some of you....

I'll keep you posted as to what I think of it...I should see it be monday

"Common Sense is Underated"

[Sword and Shield]

Howdy Buddahair & Socal! Welcome to <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>land! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

For companies (major only, i.e. no customs):
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>, of course, #1
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Queen Cutlery, some of the best slipjoints around
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Case, also a fine slip maker, but falls a tad below Queen.
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Schrade, strictly for Old Timer.
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Buck, the classic 110.

Bottom Three:
<img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Master Cutlery, makers of many HSN ripoffs.
<img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Frost Cutlery, makers of the rest. Not a terrible knife, but knockoffs land you here.
<img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Gerber's tactical knives. Their multis are great, but their Chameleon and other one-handers are subpar.

Steels- I'll make it 6, 3 carbon, 3 SS.
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Good ol' 1095.
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> 50100B, Case CV
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> D2 (yeah, I know it's semi-stainless)
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> VG-10
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> ATS-55
<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> AUS-10

Edited by - Sword and Shield on 9/5/2002 3:43:58 PM

[sc_rebel1957]

Ok were'nt we talking production made knives? Reeves is a custom maker a fine 1 but still a custon. If we add custom makers into the mix i'd rate Strider knives as tops as a bet your life on a blade.

[Alan2112]

Steels(keeping in mind there are quite a few I haven't tried yet)
1.ATS-34/CM154
2.50100B
3.1095
Manufacturers
1.Spyderco
2.Benchmade
3.Queen Cutlery/Ontario
4.A.G. Russell
5.Case
RKBA!
5.

[voxnaes]

Steels:
VG-10
CPM 440V
ATS 34/RWL 34
12C27
Top 5 companies;
SPYDERCO
MICROTECH
FALLKNIVEN
STRIDER (if they are in online stores, they ain´t custom!)
HELLE

Vox.

Edited by - voxnaes on 9/6/2002 5:54:38 AM

[socalspyder]

Yes, originally I was going after production knife manufacturers...( if we get into customs that opens up a whole new world) Some interesting items brought up here and a couple new steels and mnufacturers for me to look at....Thanks.

That is all.

[liko]

Best all-around steel: VG-10
Best hard-use steel: CPM-440V
Best cutlery steel: S30V/S60V

Other honorable mentions:

AUS-8
AUS-10

Edited by - liko on 9/10/2002 9:48:34 PM