Favorite EDC steel

[Paul Ardbeg]

We live in the golden age of knife steels, I have many different steels. For my every day use on a folding knife, I really like S90v. Good edge retention, tough enough for my needs, easy to sharpen and plenty corrosion resistant. M4 is a close second.

Fixed blades are a different story. I prefer 3V or 1095 carbon steel because I need to be able to baton amongst things.

[silver & black]

We live in the golden age of knife steels, I have many different steels. For my every day use on a folding knife, I really like S90v. Good edge retention, tough enough for my needs, easy to sharpen and plenty corrosion resistant. M4 is a close second.

Fixed blades are a different story. I prefer 3V or 1095 carbon steel because I need to be able to baton amongst things.

Okay, enough people have spoke of the virtues of S90V. I guess I'll have to buy another knife, now.

[Manixguy@1994]

I have to go with Sal’s thinking, I go with a steel to fit the job and or at times environment. MG2

[Paul Ardbeg]

We live in the golden age of knife steels, I have many different steels. For my every day use on a folding knife, I really like S90v. Good edge retention, tough enough for my needs, easy to sharpen and plenty corrosion resistant. M4 is a close second.

Fixed blades are a different story. I prefer 3V or 1095 carbon steel because I need to be able to baton amongst things.

Okay, enough people have spoke of the virtues of S90V. I guess I'll have to buy another knife, now.

Yes sir! Especially that combo of S90v and carbonfiber that Spyderco does so well It will always be a special combo to me.

[barnaclesonaboat]

I love to play favorites, as well as revise my list of said favorites on the regular, ha! Like several others have already said, different steels for different activities, for sure - but if we're playing favorites, S90V is the one. Hard steel that stays sharp and defies it's toughness ratings in my experience, all while being essentially stainless outside of maritime use. Hard to beat!

[ejames13]

I have four :
M4
M4
M4
aaaaaaand
M4
Why ?
The stupid sharp sink-into-back-of-thumb-nail-sharpness hangs in there a long time making "Super Steels " look silly .
This stuff has been around since way back in the day ; I forget ; just read it . . . something like the 1920s .

[ I just looked it up again . = 1939 and was initially called Neatro by James Gill of VASCO . THANK YOU Dr. Larrin Thomas. ]

Gets sharp again if you lay a polishing stone somewhere near it over night .
Well , almost that easy .

This opinion was formulated over of a decade of highly rigourous scientific investigation . . .
overseen at every turn by myself .
Or as we call it here at 'bagger's University : Farting around with sharp stuff .

This is interesting.

I have 4 Military's at the moment: REX 45, 4V, S30V, and M4. The M4 Millie consistently loses its fine edge faster than the other 3. I can bring it right back with a few swipes on the Sharpmaker, but it doesn't last as long as the others. It also seems to hold onto a burr longer. Sometimes, especially if the SM rods are dirty, I have to strop it to get that last bit of burr off the edge.

I actually almost sold it for this reason. Maybe I need to give it a full sharpening again and start fresh.

[Scandi Grind]

I don't think I have used enough different steels, nor am I picky enough to have strong favorites. I lean toward basic steels that don't have a ton of edge retention but sharpen up easily on simple stones.

But, based on what I own right now... I have two realms of EDC, fixed blade and folder. For folders that would be VG-10. Holds a toothy working edge OK, isn't hard to get an edge back. And for a fixed blade, it would be 80crV2. Takes a nice patina (and hence forth has not required any oilng on my part), sharpens up stupid easy, and is quite tough.

[kobold]

I like high edge retention steels for my folders (Maxamet, 15v, Magnacut, M4, K390) and tough ones (eg 3v, 14c28n) for my fixies. I also like when they are reasonably easy to sharpen (with proper abrasives) and can be stropped back to life quickly (Spy27, Cruwear). In general, finer microstructures are preferable.

[James Y]

For me, in no particular order:

S30V, S35VN, S45VN
LC200N
VG-10
H1

I don't have anything in Magnacut, and if I ever try it and like it, I might add it to the mix.

I have an S110V knife, but it's not one of my favorites. Also a couple in CTS-XHP, and several other steels, but they aren't among my favorites to use.

Jim

[silver & black]

I was just trying to get an idea of what most would consider a really good all around steel that is easily maintained. If I know I'm going to be breaking down a lot of cardboard on a given day, I will pocket Rex 76, Maxamet or Rex 121. On normal days where I will be doing normal tasks like slicing veneer, cutting minimal cardboard, cutting plastic banding, opening taped up boxes, etc... I will pocket more "normal" steels like S30V, Cruware, S35VN, 154CM, etc... I put Magnacut in the all around steels because I've had good luck with it.

[Snacktime]

S30VN, S35VN, D2 and 14C28N I have been more into design than steel the last few years. No longer do physical work everyday, hence getting a knife to last a week between sharpenings is much easier. Flip side is my hands are getting worse and I am much more sensitive to bad ergonomics.

[navin johnson]

K390 for wet or dry (Seattle area and no K390 rust) not salt water.

Utility knife for as many mundane tasks as possible

[Skar]

I prefer s30v, lc200n, cruwear, hap40 and m4.

[Midnightrider]

I carry a P4 in K390 most of the time, but I have to say for edge retention and stainlessness, S110V rocks. Surprised nobody mentioned it here yet.

[CDEP]

I agree with Sal, and my steel choices are based on the job. If I had to choose an *all-purpose EDC* steel, however, it would probably be a toss up between Cru-Wear and VG10/SPY27.

Ease of sharpening, ease of getting a quality edge that strops back nicely, with a sufficient balance of edge retention would be the determinative qualities.

[Kleon]

I am spoiled with far far too many choices in my C36 Millie collection alone. The one that has accompanied me the most has been the CF S90v Military. Many thousands of hours in all weather on duty and never failed to perform flawlessly. Took very little time to clean it up when i detail stripped it about ten years in to remove some minor surface corrosion from years of sweating through summer patrols. In this respect the s90v Millie reminds me of my G17 duty pistol in that it performs to high standards never fails you and shrugs off indifference to maintenance schedules lol

[silver & black]

I am spoiled with far far too many choices in my C36 Millie collection alone. The one that has accompanied me the most has been the CF S90v Military. Many thousands of hours in all weather on duty and never failed to perform flawlessly. Took very little time to clean it up when i detail stripped it about ten years in to remove some minor surface corrosion from years of sweating through summer patrols. In this respect the s90v Millie reminds me of my G17 duty pistol in that it performs to high standards never fails you and shrugs off indifference to maintenance schedules lol

[Flash]

I’m a big fan of stainless steel because of the conditions I use my knives in, my countries climate and the fact I could not be arsed oiling my knives after I use them.

For me it’s between Magnacut and Spy27.

Magnacut because it is so low maintenance - I use it in all conditions and just throw it back in the pocket and all it usually needs is a strop once a fortnight to maintain a good edge.

Spy27 also because it’s low maintence but it needs a strop more frequently than Magnacut. The thing is it has the ability to get a scary sharp edge with such minimal effort whereas with Magnacut you have to put more time into the edge. It’s a joy to maintain and use. I feel like it got overlooked because Magnacut was the big name everyone wanted written on their knives at the time, but don’t sleep on this steel it’s wonderful.

Compared to these two, steels like S30V doesn’t give as much edge retention in relation to the time you spend trying to get a sharp edge out of it.
CTS-XHP will form rust relatively easily.
BD1N, N690 and VG-10 are outshone in every area aside from initial cost.
D2 is now a great budget option, so long as it remains on knives that are indeed budget.
Not tried Spyderco S90V yet but from others it has been good.

[toml4185]

SPY27 would be my choice. So easy to touch up with minimal effort and don't have to worry about staining.

Great, great all rounder.

[WilliamDK]

Sorry, I know it is a bit boring but I really enjoy M390 (or equivalent) for an allround steel.
For explicit cutting tasks, CPM 15V (BBB style) is really nice.
CPM SPY27 is the best runner up for easy maintenance and good balance between corrosion resistance, edge retention and easy of sharpening.