Favourite Steel
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jaislandboy
- Member
- Posts: 6150
- Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:00 pm
- Location: tennessee
telemeister wrote:Firstly, I have to say that I am not very knowledgable about the subtle (and not so subtle) differences in the steels used by Spyderco, particularly from a practical point of view (cutting, durability, sharpness, sharpening etc).
Having got that admission out of the way, I would like to know more. So, what are your favourite/preferred steels for blades, and why.
I am interested in the practical side of the equation, rather than 'this steel has 3% carbon, and this only has 1%'.
I hope this is not too silly a question?! :eek:
hands down, my favorite is H1. rust proof, corrosion proof... where i live (salt water everywhere, temperate rainforest...), it's too much of a hassle to carry anything else, except on special occassions.
plus, there's the work-hardening... :D
1. BG-42; Can get it crazy sharp and it keeps the edge well
2. VG-10; Much of the same, but dulls a bit faster I think
3. CPM D2; This has been surprisingly good and no rust issues even after a week of skiing with it carried IWB. S30V would be about tied with this, but D2 seems to keep the edge a bit better.
4. H-1: Love that it is rust proof, easy to sharpen. In PE it dulls a bit quick.
5. ZDP-189. Stays pretty sharp for ages, but I have a hard time getting it as sharp as my favorite steels.. It gets very sharp, but not the grabby extra sharp I like on my EDC blades. Still carry my Stretch II almost every day though
If Sal made a Stretch III with micarta scales, BG-42 steel (I'd be fine with VG-10 too), wire clip (Tip up), the finer jimping on the choil and Sal's logo on the blade I'd have my perfect EDC :D
Sverre
2. VG-10; Much of the same, but dulls a bit faster I think
3. CPM D2; This has been surprisingly good and no rust issues even after a week of skiing with it carried IWB. S30V would be about tied with this, but D2 seems to keep the edge a bit better.
4. H-1: Love that it is rust proof, easy to sharpen. In PE it dulls a bit quick.
5. ZDP-189. Stays pretty sharp for ages, but I have a hard time getting it as sharp as my favorite steels.. It gets very sharp, but not the grabby extra sharp I like on my EDC blades. Still carry my Stretch II almost every day though
If Sal made a Stretch III with micarta scales, BG-42 steel (I'd be fine with VG-10 too), wire clip (Tip up), the finer jimping on the choil and Sal's logo on the blade I'd have my perfect EDC :D
Sverre
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guntotin_fool
- Member
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:40 pm
While not experienced in all the steels, I prefer ATS 34 over most everything else. it takes a very refined edge. it has smaller carbides in it than others so that when you sharpen it, it gets just VERY polished and stays sharp for a long long time.
S30V tends to chip a bit too much for me, and when sharpened, it takes a lot more work to get the edge back to the refined state I want.
D2 has very large carbides, but its as tough as can be. for a working knife that means its a good knife that survives cutting cardboard,tape with all sorts of dust and sand embedded etc. It will never sharpen to that refined edge that a s30V will or an ATS 34 will, but it will keep that somewhat course edge for a very long time.
440C when heat treated right is a very good steel too. Tough and strong and yet easy to sharpen up. Some older bucks in this steel got that heat threat just right and are darn near amazing in edge holding, some did not get it right and while adequate as knives, they are not in the same class as those lucky few.
CPM154 to me acts just like ATS 34, It takes a very clean sharp edge and to me the only issue is it takes more strop time to clean up the edge than ATS, but it might hold that edge just a hair longer. IF you do not strop CPM154, I find it darn near impossible to get a shaving edge on. I think that edge just needs that final polish.
BG 42. I only have one knife in this, and so far its pretty good. in some ways a super 52-100 steel, Its fine grained, takes a VERY sharp edge, and holds very well. It sharpens with some effort, but it takes little stropping as the grain is nice and fine.
S30V tends to chip a bit too much for me, and when sharpened, it takes a lot more work to get the edge back to the refined state I want.
D2 has very large carbides, but its as tough as can be. for a working knife that means its a good knife that survives cutting cardboard,tape with all sorts of dust and sand embedded etc. It will never sharpen to that refined edge that a s30V will or an ATS 34 will, but it will keep that somewhat course edge for a very long time.
440C when heat treated right is a very good steel too. Tough and strong and yet easy to sharpen up. Some older bucks in this steel got that heat threat just right and are darn near amazing in edge holding, some did not get it right and while adequate as knives, they are not in the same class as those lucky few.
CPM154 to me acts just like ATS 34, It takes a very clean sharp edge and to me the only issue is it takes more strop time to clean up the edge than ATS, but it might hold that edge just a hair longer. IF you do not strop CPM154, I find it darn near impossible to get a shaving edge on. I think that edge just needs that final polish.
BG 42. I only have one knife in this, and so far its pretty good. in some ways a super 52-100 steel, Its fine grained, takes a VERY sharp edge, and holds very well. It sharpens with some effort, but it takes little stropping as the grain is nice and fine.