Spyderco Forums

I love all of the awesome steels out there - but do I really need anything more than what VG10, S30V, or H1 provides? Seems these three cover all bases for a folding knife.

Does it matter? I'm going to continue to get other steels anyways, knowing full and well they are overkill for my needs! :D

Personally I would replace S30V with S110V and then that's a pretty well rounded trio. S30V and VG10 are not drastically different in performance so I'd just choose something a little higher up the ladder than S30V.

I've thought the same thing many times. VG10 & S30V/S35VN are absolutely fine for my needs. Heck, if I'm being honest, BD1 and 440C work pretty well for me too.

That said, I do enjoy trying different steels and have a pretty good variety now. As you say, most are overkill for me and I may never use them to their full potential but they're still fun to have.

Do you need more? That's a question only you can answer for yourself. I ALWAYS need more knives. :D

Need? No. Want? Yes. :D Life is short, try as many steels as you can.

Spydergirl88 wrote:Need? No. Want? Yes. :D Life is short, try as many steels as you can.

Ok - I'll just run with that!

dreadpirate wrote:

Spydergirl88 wrote:Need? No. Want? Yes. :D Life is short, try as many steels as you can.

Ok - I'll just run with that!

If you dont already have them I would suggest getting some hap40, s110v, and cruwear :)

I concur with SG. You know you'll have to try them all out eventually.

No, you do not need anything else per se. Even with AUS-8 and 440C or even 420HC etc you will be okay as long as HT is good.
But as most have pointed out, need and want are not always aligned :)

Evil D wrote:Personally I would replace S30V with S110V and then that's a pretty well rounded trio. S30V and VG10 are not drastically different in performance so I'd just choose something a little higher up the ladder than S30V.

100% :)

I could likely live happily ever after with that trio in knves of my choice ... if I could also keep my ZDP-189 Stretch.

H1 & S30V cover my needs just fine, especially DLC or TiNi S30V.

I prefer H1 for serrated knives and it makes a great EDC steel too. I love how S30V sharpens up in my large PE folders.

These days I usually carry SE H1 + PE S30V.

I have no real interest in trying out new steels aside from LC200N at some point. I'd prefer to see these two steels implemented in different ways than see new blade steels, e.g. lightweight DLC S30V Manix XL, or H1 Civilian.

Steel type doesn't really feature in the decisions in the morning when I pick a knife out to carry for the day (and I rotate daily) but it is notable that since I started keeping track of what I carry at the beginning of the year, S30V/S35VN and VG10 make up just over 50% (out of 24 steels in 61 different knives carried) so far this year. I've never felt I needed anything harder or tougher but admittedly my usage is very light.

I see H1 as a "specialty steel" and when I do need a highly corrosion resistant or serrated blade for a specific task, it will invariably be an H1 blade.

The stats seem to indicate that I probably don't need anything more but like most of us here ..... I'd like more. However I won't buy a knife with type X steel just for the sake of it anymore, the rest of the package needs to work for me as well. I have too many knives that I bought for a single feature (steel, blade shape, wave opening, etc) that don't get carried because the total package doesn't really work for me.

I always try to carry one "salt" (h1 or lc200n) and one "non stainless super steel" (hap 40, superblue, maxamet, zdp-189, CPM M4, ect.). Ready for anything.

ZrowsN1s wrote:I always try to carry one "salt" (h1 or lc200n) and one "non stainless super steel" (hap 40, superblue, maxamet, zdp-189, CPM M4, ect.). Ready for anything.

That's what I used to do when I lived in a cooler climate. CPMD2 Military + H1 Tasman Salt or Spyderhawk. It's a fun combo.

being used to SAKs since i was a kid, vg-10 is already overkill for my EDC uses. i was only compelled to try out other steels, models and lock mechanisms because of all the chitchats in this forum which got me interested and see what the fuss was all about. so a word of advice for you if you don't want to be broke most of the time.. just be happy with whatever spydie you got in vg10/s30v and stay away from this forum.

I need to have steels from both sides of the spectrum.My trio is : CPM-Cru Wear,CTS-XHP and H1.That's all I need in my life.

Marius

I certainly do not need anything more than VG-10 or S30V. These are good 'super steels' and do just about everything well. Plus, as nice as it is to have a steel that takes a nuclear fission plant to sharpen, I am not always in a situation where I can do that. I like steels I can sharpen on a car window or a coffee mug, but that will hold an edge for a long time. Both of those steels fit the bill (as does S35VN).

I agree that I don't need anything more than those premium steels mentioned. I sure do like having the choices and I will take advantage of them when I can.

Joe

I'll be happy with only M390 and Cuwear. Until I get bored with them! Variety is the spice of life so I'm enjoying everything I have.

npad69 wrote:being used to SAKs since i was a kid, vg-10 is already overkill for my EDC uses. i was only compelled to try out other steels, models and lock mechanisms because of all the chitchats in this forum which got me interested and see what the fuss was all about. so a word of advice for you if you don't want to be broke most of the time.. just be happy with whatever spydie you got in vg10/s30v and stay away from this forum.

This... Oh so much this. Recently I have returned to carrying SAK but believe me., their damasteel offerings aren't cheap either