What's your favorite steel?

[MMGRenovations]

Just going thru my collection I have 38 knives total. What I did notice is that cpm-m4 dominates my collection. I have 11 knives in m4. It's the steel I use for work everyday. I do like m390/204p/20cv a lot as well, but I find it kinda chippy. Anyway here's my M4 collection

[Hopweaver]

I think M390 and S30V are my current favorites. But I have an S90V Sprint on Pre-order so that may be added to the list.

Here is a link to most of the popular blade steels broken down into layman's terms (EDGE RETENTION, CORROSION RESISTANCE, EASE OF SHARPENING)

http://knifeinformer.com/discovering-th ... ife-steel/

[steelcity16]

Cruwear/52100/M4. Would like to see some Spydie folders in 3V, 4V, and PD-1 to try out. Of course my favorite model, the Native, isn't available in any of my favorite steels..

I enjoy H1 as well, but really wish there were some beefy G10 models that used serrated H1. Would make a nice hard use folder.

[archangel08]

S110V, S30V, Cruwear

I've rocked all of these on a PM2 and my bushcraft knife is S30V which I'm very happy with it's edge retention and corrosion resistance. I'd say it's the best all around since it's easier to sharpen.

Assume I have continued rule of law I like S110V on my EDC since it keeps an edge even longer and it's not all that hard to sharpen with the Spyderco sharp maker and a nice diamond stone set like that of the Lansky system for when its really dull and needs more than a routine sharpening.

[vivi]

Pocket knife: H1

Small fixed blade: A2

Big fixed blade: S7

[cangokaw]

zdp189 and s110v

[attila]

It's hard to pic one favorite steel when we have so many to choose from. Here are my top pics:

S110V for stainless in damp environments or near saltwater.
H1 for in saltwater (soon to be replaced by LC200N)
HAP40 when corrosion isn't a concern.
Z-wear/CPM 3V/CPM 4V in fixed blades (usually).

I look forward to trying 20CV/M390 soon. If sharpening is significantly easier than S110V, there may be an upset in my rankings.

[gundamaniac]

I haven't had the pleasure of trying S110V yet, but I don't find 20CV/M390 difficult to sharpen. I like 20CV/M390 and S30V quite a bit, but prefer the edges I can get on 20CV.

[koenigsegg]

I haven't tried them all so I can't tell you yet but I wanna try Vanax really bad. I really like how sharp xhp can get while still being stainless. M4 has been great but I don't have much experience yet. Maxamet is the most scary sharp steel I have

[The Mastiff]

Cruwear/Z wear/PD#1 in most size knives with a tailored heat. In real large choppers I will usually go for 3V or more often 1080/84/5160/W2/O1/52100 etc. These steels are versatile enough for middle size and even folding knives. I usually won't be buying large knives anymore and have a couple boxes of unused ones as it is. There is a place for them but I find less need in my use now than I used to. I no longer volunteer to sleep in the outdoors around here like I used to and pretty much no one can talk me into stuff like this any more. :) . Perhaps if I found myself in the western states again I might. My area is too swamp like and full of crawly-creepy stuff in the summer.

About all I don't really want is 1050/60/65 steels or in stainless 440C. I just have no use for these and place them at the bottom for knife use. There are way to many steels that do the job better than these respectively.

[gingerninja]

In no particular order cruwear, s35vn, 204p xhp and hap40. There's a couple of honorable mentions but those 5 are pretty much my favourites

[Evil D]

Probably M4 as well. It's really well rounded.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

H1 stainless Nitrogen Steel. No doubt about it. After that, it is VG10.

I am looking forward to Lc200N.

I also like Sandvik Stainless varieties.

[abbazaba]

M4 as well. Though K390 has been a contender lately.

Loving that CF scale swap DLC Manix2 :)

[Hopweaver]

Loving that CF scale swap DLC Manix2 :)

I saw that picture last week on the Weekly Contest thread. Beautiful!

[Strider]

Enjoying M4 the most these days.
I would just like to mention that Hap40 is currently the only steel I have where I am feel somewhat nervous about accidentally getting cut with it. It just seems like it would slide right through without even noticing. So sharp.

[npad69]

stainless: lc200n
tool: cruwear

[toxophilus]

Spyderco spoils us with their selection of steel offerings, hard to nail it down to just one

In order of most usage (currently using different steels on a weekly basis):

• - Cruwear / CTS-204P / M390
  
  - M4 / HAP40
  
  - 10V / K390 / Maxamet / ZDP-189
  
  - S90V / CTS-XHP

[JD Spydo]

With the plethora of new supersteels coming down the pipeline it's hard to fully commit to just one blade steel. But as of this very moment my vote will go to M390. My M390 Military model has been the very best hard use Spyder I've owned and used up till this very day. OH I'm sure a new one will come down the line that I'll switch to at some point but to unseat my M390 Military it's going to have to be a real barn burner of a blader steel to do that.

I just sharpened my M390 Millie last night and I really impressed a couple of friends as to how super sharp I could get that bad boy.

Now Spyderedges are a different creature all together as I've stated at least a thousand times previously. At this time my favorite Spyderedged blade steel is ATS-55. For some strange reason I've just been having the best of luck with that steel for Spyderedges in the past 3 months of hard use. H-1 will get honorable mention in that category.

[TomAiello]

Maxamet, hands down.

I like s110v, M390, K390, XHP and Cruwear. And v4e is definitely growing on me.

But if there can be only one, for me it's Maxamet.