Sharpest Steel

[avocadobbq]

I would love to see an Aogami White#1 Spydie.

[Hobnob]

Thanks for the responses. Makes sense that the apex would determine the level of sharpness more so than the steel.

[GarageBoy]

Are the steels people claim to get sharper just easier to get there? Very few people are doing full mirrors on s110v because it takes a while

[Ankerson]

Are the steels people claim to get sharper just easier to get there? Very few people are doing full mirrors on s110v because it takes a while

Yeah, for people it comes down to sharpening talent.

Some can sharpen any steel the same, while others not so much.

In the end it's makes zero difference what steel it is because all of them are equal when it comes to sharpness ability.

[TkoK83Spy]

Are the steels people claim to get sharper just easier to get there? Very few people are doing full mirrors on s110v because it takes a while

That's how I answered it. In terms of ease, of the 15 steels I have or have tried I find SuperBlue and 52100 to be the easiest.

[Ankerson]

Thanks for the responses. Makes sense that the apex would determine the level of sharpness more so than the steel.

Yes, that is the only thing that matters, the smaller it is the sharper it is.

Steel type doesn't matter at all.

[avocadobbq]

What about thinness behind the edge? It's not technically sharpness, but a scalpel gives the impression of being sharper than a bushcrafting knife. I'm reminded of the blowouts on the original Nilakka in S30v with no secondary bevel.

[Ankerson]

What about thinness behind the edge? It's not technically sharpness, but a scalpel gives the impression of being sharper than a bushcrafting knife. I'm reminded of the blowouts on the original Nilakka in S30v with no secondary bevel.

Doesn't have anything to do with sharpness.

Totally different topic, that's geometry.

[Ankerson]

Out of curiosity which steel has the potential to be the sharpest? This may be hard to determine, but I thought I would ask for opinions/results.

To be fair let's take one model say a Para 2 with a 30 inclusive bevel with an acceptable heat treat for that steel. Trying to eliminate the variables do you think there are one or two that would come out on top?

NONE, they are all the same as sharpness has to do with the width of the apex and that is the same on all steels all the way down to the atomic level.

This has been my experience as well.

I have steels that I find easier to get to the upper ends of sharpness, but I haven't come across a quality knife that couldn't take a great edge. Everything from S7 to ZDP189 has sharpened up nicely for me.

AEB-L, O1, 1095, VG10, Victorinox steel and BD1 are the steels I find easiest to get hair whittling sharp, for what its worth. But steels with higher carbide content like S110V, 204P and S90V can still get there.

For people it generally comes down to sharpening skill or lack there of, but that has nothing to do with the steels or how sharp they can get as they are all the same as we said.

For me personally I have never noticed any difference between any of the steels as far as how sharp I can get them. I sharpen them all the same way using the same equipment.

I agree with Darby saying people overthink things too much.

I think people get in their own way MOST of the time by overthinking it.