Blade steel

[CopperFouling]

My next big knife (it's a version of the Camp Defender) is in 3V. I have a small knife in 3V, and I'm eager to test a big knife with that steel.

What's 3V like?

 

[JShirley]

Super tough, holds a terrific edge, can rust.

 

[nugun55]

D2 & 1095.

 

[Glock Doctor]

Here's a popular Wikipedia Article on blade steels (Many of them imported).

I like all of the more popular blade steels; as long as the metal has been properly heat-treated I've no complaints. What's surprised me the most over the past several years is the high quality of Chinese knife steels, as well as the almost complete loss of quality metal finishing on Randall-Made knives.

I've been collecting Randall-Made knives for more than 35 years; and I rarely see a new Randall knife, nowadays, that I'm able to regard as being well finished. Damn shame! William Scagel and Bo Randall, respectively, invented and reinvented the quintessential all-American fixed blade knife!

 

[Zeke/PA]

After YEARS in the toolroom, I still find D-2 , a WW1 era die steel hard to beat as far as corrosion resistance and edge holding ability.
A properly heat treated O-1 blade is really, IMHO, all the knife that one needs!

 

[JShirley]

I talked with Sam today, and his experience with 52100 and 5160 mirrors my own: he says raw 52100 left out in his basement can get surface rust overnight, while 5160 shows much less tendency to rust.

 

[Storm]

If you take care of your things 1095 is good. I also like D2 but there is a trick to sharpening it. If you go too fine it's just like it's dull. You need to leave some tooth.

 

[Zeke/PA]

If you take care of your things 1095 is good. I also like D2 but there is a trick to sharpening it. If you go too fine it's just like it's dull. You need to leave some tooth.

I agree about taking care of things and in that case a knife made from 1095 is really all you need for daily knife use.
Actually, O-1 is merely a glorified 1095 !
I embrace the virtues of the Opinel Carbon steel knives , simply a 1095 type alloy, that does all I ask for in a daily use knife.
The best part ?
The knives are inexpensive!!

 

[DNS]

My preference is 1095 and Opinels X90.

At work i use 440A since i occassionally play in 50% caustic soda. Talk about patina...

 

[GLOOB]

I like carbon steels and 440A for ease of sharpening to a keen edge. The mild stainless that Mora uses is good too. AEB-L or somesuch. One of my favorite fixed blades is a cheap Mtech.