Favorite steel!

[SpyderEdgeForever]

My two favorites are VG10 and H1.

[Mattysc42]

1) lc200n
2) maxamet
3) s35vn

[Bill1170]

I haven’t tried LC200N yet, and I’m impressed by how many here like it a lot.

Of my regular carry knives my favorites are M390, S110V, and ZPD-189. I still use and highly regard VG-10, too.

[Doc Dan]

I like K390, XHP, VG-10, and BD1. These last two might be replaced by LC200N and BD1N once I have a chance to use the.

Still hoping for Sal to come through with that LC200N Urban LW (not yellow please)

[Deadboxhero]

Best steels Spyderco uses that I've carried as of March 2019


1.Maxamet
2.K390
3.Rex 45
4.LC200N


Still waiting for
BD1N
Vanax
15V

[brainfriction]

I like 204p and XHP. Relatively easy to sharpen, takes a nice polish and screaming sharp edge.

[BigKenbo]

Wow a difficult question! I am blessed with a few nice ones maxamet, zdp-189, hap40, s110v, s30v and s35vn. Honestly though i have had my zdp endura in my right pocket every day, and rotated the rest through my left pocket lol! So i guess ill go with the zdp-189.

[ZMW]

So far PMA11 (A10) has been my favorite. Amazing edge retention. I want to like K390 more since it is supposed to be tougher. I have the urban, but comparing an Urban to a Mule is tough

Hoping to get the frn police in k390 to test it with a bigger knife

[TomAiello]

I have the K390 mule and the PMA11 mule, and I honesty can't tell the difference between them.

[vivi]

Hard to settle on just one.

I'm a big fan of 1095, O1 and A2 for camp knives. These sharpen fast, roll instead of chip, take insanely sharp edges, and are tough enough to not think twice about batoning, prying, chopping etc.

For folders I prefer H1 or DLC coated steels because corrosion resistance is very important to me. I'd like more DLC coated carbon tool steel folders, but those sprints are all small knives it seems. I really like the K390 on my Police 4 but the lack of corrosion resistance means I can only carry it about half the year. If I could get it in DLC it'd be at the top of my list for folder.

I'm also a huge fan of BD1. I've found it resists corrosion quite well, is very quick to sharpen, holds an edge about as well as VG10, and takes the best edges I've put on a knife. I love how sharp it gets, and how easily it gets so sharp. It wouldn't be my first choice for roles where serious edge retention is desired, but for typical pocket knife stuff I adore it.

If I had my way, Spyderco would produce lightweight versions in BD1 of all their popular Golden folders. I really like that steel.

[foofie]

I find it a bit difficult to separate the knives from the steel.
As far as every day usage - s110v. This is mostly because I love carrying my ukpk and para3.
Rex 45 has really been growing on me.
And oddly enough, I would add s30v. Not in any way flashy, but it just works well.

[RippyD]

Best steels Spyderco uses that I've carried as of March 2019


1.Maxamet
2.K390
3.Rex 45
4.LC200N


Still waiting for
BD1N
Vanax
15V

I had my Maxamet Native sitting around not getting used. Why? No idea. Now carry it pretty regularly. Sharpens up easily with the right stones and (obviously) stays sharp a long time. I don't do any crazy stuff with my folders so I'm not worried about it breaking.