What was the first contemporary "super-steel" to see mass distribution in the knife industry? M4? 10V?

[mmadison]

I am researching the long-term attributes of modern knife blade "super-steels", particularly in regards to shelf-storage and the factors that affect "new old stock".

In particular, I am wondering which was the first to see a large-scale distribution, from which a reasonable data set over time could be examined. I have found little objective information.

My intuition tells me Spyderco is the most likely candidate to have sold these knives on a larger scale. Is that correct? Which steel(s) was (were) the first to reach a large customer base?

Which model knife was the pioneer for the mass-market? The Military 1?

[Evil D]

I couldn't say, it was surely not just before my time but specifically before "my knife time". The oldest big deal steel I remember is the 440 family. When I first got into Spyderco, it seemed like the hottest steel you could get was ZDP-189.

[jwbnyc]

Same here. 440c was touted back in the day and was mass produced and used. D2 as well, but that was not as big as 440c was, more for the afi crowd.

It’s a moving target.

Perhaps define what you consider a super steel?

[JRinFL]

My guess is 440V (now S60v). If that's not considered a super steel then it is S30V. The first time I read the phrase "super steel" was in reference to S30V.

[JRinFL]

440C is almost 100 years old, so it's a stretch calling it a super steel, even if it was revolutionary in its day.

Edited to add: Always a wonderful resource - https://knifesteelnerds.com/2018/07/16/ ... or-knives/

[jwbnyc]

That’s the thing about super steels. Last years super steel is this years junk steel. 440C just had an especially long run. And there are quite a few derived from 440C that are considered very tasty today.

The term super steel is marketing hooey. All the steels of interest have strengths and weaknesses.

[Wandering_About]

It depends on the very fluid definition of a super steel. I recall an article by Larrin where the first reference he could find to "super steel" was an article from the 1970s, and the steels likely referred to were the now humble 440C and 154CM.

https://knifesteelnerds.com/2018/10/01/ ... fe-steels/

[Danke]

No love for VG-10?

[abbazaba]

S30v was the first to mind. CPM was a huge leap forward, and really took off with S30v, which enjoyed a lot of hype. CPM-440V and CPM-60v came first, but never really took off like S30v.

Hopefully Larrin comes in and schools us all.

[GarageBoy]

Benchmade was using M2 for a while.

Gerber used Vasco wear (cruwear).

[James Y]

I remember back in the ‘90s, when ATS-34, which was like a Japanese version of 154CM, was all the rage in the knife industry. ATS-34 was almost “everywhere”for awhile. Now, nobody talks about it.

There was also CPM-440V in the ‘90s.

What does ‘super steel’ even mean anymore? Were the AUS (6 & 8) steels considered ‘super’ at one time?

Jim

[James Y]

No love for VG-10?

I still really like VG-10.

I think it would have been considered a super steel in the ‘90s, and it definitely would have if it had become widely used in knives back in the ‘80s.

Jim

[Coastal]

The first steel I remember a huge deal made of was ATS-34. It was the first one I can remember being noticeably harder to sharpen than others I had. The first knife I had in ATS-34 was either the C36 Military or the C22 Michael Walker. My all-time favorite fixed blades are in ATS-34 by Van Sickle Cutlery (though they will probably eventually be surpassed by the Waterway).

[yablanowitz]

I remember Gerber running their steel harder than anyone else back in the early 70s. As mentioned, they used some Vascowear and L6 back then. Looking around at what else was available is difficult since almost no one marked their steel back then.

You really need to define what you mean by "super steel". H1, H2 and LC200N are super if you are looking for corrosion resistence, but rather less so if you are looking for abrasion resistence.

[Tgmr05]

As someone else mentioned, the moniker - super steel - was probably associated/used most with the widely distributed S30V. Also, as others mentioned, what would be considered a super steel in 1922 is somewhat different than what would be considered a super steel in 2022

[Airlsee]

I held off after first seeing this thread because I just wasn't there...but the only "super" steel with lasting longevity and which still stands supreme in my mind is CPM-S90V. I know that S60V, M390 & Elmax were patented beforehand...but since S90V's introduction to the knife world it has never been outright bested or dethroned...

S90V's early widespread adoption throughout the knife industry...and the fact that it's never lost its appeal as a top-tier stainless-super-steel, keeps S90V as the best stainless steel available in my mind. It's now 25 years old and is my absolute favorite stainless steel and is treated as such by much of the knife world...I feel like that more than qualifies it for this conversation.

[ladybug93]

i would've guessed s30v as well. like others have said, it was the first time i ever heard super steel as a descriptor.

[shunsui]

I remember Gerber running their steel harder than anyone else back in the early 70s. As mentioned, they used some Vascowear and L6 back then. Looking around at what else was available is difficult since almost no one marked their steel back then...

I've seen claims Gerber's old (60's) fixed blades with the cast aluminium handles were M2 steel, run very hard, and chrome plated. I remember a complaint about them breaking if you dropped them on a tile floor. That was pretty old stuff, I remember their displays in all the hardware and sporting goods stores when I was a kid.

[wrdwrght]

Were super steels (whatever “super” means) even a marketing thing (it is a marketing thing) before powder metallurgy became a thing? When was that?

[mmadison]

Yes, I should have been more clear. I should have used the term "tool steel", or "high vanadium-carbide".

I am researching long-term shelf storage corrosion resistance under differing environmental conditions.

Information regarding which steels and knife models were amongst the first (approx year) to be distributed in large numbers is most helpful.