What is your all time favorite steel?

[Synov]

This sort of explains why 3V is my favorite. Need an unbreakable sword? Make it out of a thick piece of 3V. Need a straight razor with the edge retention of a high speed steel? Make it out of a thin piece of 3V.

[RamZar]

M390/20CV

[Stas]

Life was simple: K390 for winter, M390 for the rest of the year.

Then Magnacut showed up, and now Magnamax is looming on the horizon...

[Red Leader]

This sort of explains why 3V is my favorite. Need an unbreakable sword? Make it out of a thick piece of 3V. Need a straight razor with the edge retention of a high speed steel? Make it out of a thin piece of 3V.

I'm with you. 3V (and Cruwear as well, to a certain degree), is a lone standout on that chart, and in a really good way.

I sometimes wonder if 3V hasn't garnered more attention from Spyderco or Spyderco enthusiasts due to sort of a natural mismatch. If considering the 'big 3' (edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance)... Spyderco's performance tends to be concentrated toward edge retention first and foremost, and then corrosion resistance as a distant second. Toughness by and large has been left off the table. Perhaps Spyderco respectfully exits much of that space to allow others (like Cold Steel, for example) to fill the vacuum. But just because edge retention is their bread and butter, doesn't mean that we cannot have a few knives here and there that play up the 'super steel' label, just in a different direction. 3V is an ultra super steel; VERY few steels (or none) can do what 3V can do. It's just that a majority of the folks going after Spydie's don't value those same attributes.

That's okay - I'm glad not every Spyderco is a 3V knife. However, I do think that since they are known for ultra high performance knives and steel, 3V should at least be at least in a few offerings. Can you imagine a Shaman or Bodacious in 3V?

Also - 3V can be improved. Can you imagine if some really smart folks tweaked the recipe and the heat treat? And while I don't think it would be required, it would be pretty neat to see Nathan Carothers (who has specialized in 3V) get together in collaboration with Spyderco to offer some 3V sprints in the same way that Shawn was able to, to influence the heat treat and application of 15V within Spyderco's offerings.

While they are in different market segments, the interest in 'absolute, hardcore performance' is a shared passion between both Carothers and Spyderco. @sal, have you ever had a chance to speak w/ Nathan and what he does with 3V? I know there has been an extremely strong interest for a folder among Carothers fans. Perhaps it could introduce a new, huge customer base to Spyderco.

[Foehammer]

CruWear is probably my favorite, although I have a fondness for s30v. K390 is great too. I have a (non Spyderco) blade in magnacut but haven't used it enough to really tell.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I have had and used so many types of blade steel over the years but if I had to give a list of my favorites, and please don't ask me to only pick one:

VG10
H1, H2
440C
VG1
Sandvik 12C27 and 1428N
AUS 8 and 10

Lenticular Tetrahedral PolyTritanium Gluonic TriAlloy ( kidding, that one I made up)

[JohnNYPD]

I have been loving K390 and it got a lot of EDC time until
I got a Endela in Micro Melt PD1.

Micro Melt is a great carry steel. Excellent corrosion resistance, keeps a nice edge and it’s very easy to strop to bring it back to shaving hair.

I would like to see Spyderco offer more Micro Melt PD1
Time will tell

[Spyderfreek]

If I had to pick one, Maxamet. It's just incredible.

If I had to give a list of my top 5 it'd be
Maxamet
10V/K390 (these two are quite similar)
Rex 76
Rex 45
M4

Interestingly enough, I find Rex 45 at 66-67 hrc is a totally different animal from ~62 hrc M4. M4 has a very long lasting working edge, but Rex 45 holds that high front end sharpness for a very very long time.

[DanM1000]

I really like PD1. I'd like to see more of it on other Spyderco knives.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

H1/2
Magnacut
LC200n
Cruwear
K390

[benben]

H1/2
Magnacut
LC200n
Cruwear
K390

That’s a great list!

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

H1/2
Magnacut
LC200n
Cruwear
K390

That’s a great list!

Agreed

[Spyderbot_matrix]

I bought many choices trying to find that sweet spot.

20CV is in my pocket almost everyday, with PD#1 and I like the other steels I have, Rex45, Maxamet, K390, 4V, S—V steels, Magnacut, etcetc…

But 20CV check all the boxes (for me). One edge roll because I asked too much of the knife, but sharpened up nicely. Hasn’t failed me since

[abbazaba]

About the large number of Rex45 mentions vs only one for Hap40 - does that reflect a noticeable difference in performance, or just the popularity of Golden vs Seki models?

I've used a Hap40 Delica for a while now and for me it acts a lot like Cruwear with a little less corrosion resistance. But, people talk about Golden Rex45 - which I have not used - in a way that reminds me much more of Seki K390.

So, curious if I'm missing something and should be keeping an eye out for Rex45 in the future.

They are both M4 wannabes anyway

(I tease, but that's why I like all three :)

[thuyenbuom]

MagnaCut
Spy27
S90V/M4
CruWear
LC200N/H1/H2

[Ex-Phys]

If I had to pick one, Maxamet. It's just incredible.

If I had to give a list of my top 5 it'd be
Maxamet
10V/K390 (these two are quite similar)
Rex 76
Rex 45
M4

Interestingly enough, I find Rex 45 at 66-67 hrc is a totally different animal from ~62 hrc M4. M4 has a very long lasting working edge, but Rex 45 holds that high front end sharpness for a very very long time.

I largely agree with you, on your top five, although I have not used Rex 76 yet. I would add 15v to the list. M4 was my favorite for years, until we got k390, 10v, and the rest. I also like Rex 45 at that hrc. I have done a few things with Rex 45 that I was sure would cause it to chip, yet it didn’t. It doesn’t chip or roll on me.