ISO Carbon Steel Folder

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WonderDavid!

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I am looking for a new edc pocket knife sporting a carbon steel blade. I have tried opinel but I would really like a modern one hand opener with a automatic lock. Are there any 1095 steel folders out there and if not what should I get? Is there another steel that compares nicely to 1095 or am just going to have to settle? Thanks.
 
Yes, there are 1095 folders and those with equivalent or better carbon steel.

If you're using Opis as a basis to start from you're used to a very economical folder that packs a lot of value. You'll have to tell us what you think your upper limit is going to be for price and if you truly want to exclude "stainless" steels.

Keep in mind that 1095 isn't used very much for folders because it is so prone to rusting so you should expect "custom" knife makers, and custom knife prices, for 1095.
http://www2.knifecenter.com/kc_new/...095&locktype=&style=&min_blade=0&max_blade=50
http://www2.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_store.html?usrsearch=carbon &sortType=priceAs&a=folder

D2 might yield more choices.
http://www2.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_store.html?usrsearch=d2&a=folder&&sortType=priceAs&
 
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How long can you wait? Spyderco has a sprint run Military in 52100 due out in 2016, available for pre-order at at least one major online dealer.

Otherwise the Gayle Bradley is still available in M4. Not quite the same as 1095, but still not stainless.
 
My price point is around the $80 mark but could go up to $100. The Kershaw leak knife in d2 looked nice; how does d2 compare to 1095. I know it is a semi-stainless tool steel with good edge retention but I have no experience with it.
 
D2 is harder to sharpen, chips more easily, and takes a more toothy edge than 1095. But it isn't that bad of a steel.

Also take a look at the H&K Axis knives (made by Benchmade)... At about $90 For the small 3" blade, and $100 for the large 3.65" blade.I have the large. Decent knife, you can strip the coating if you prefer.
 
I'd consider it as misrepresenting the steel just a tad to say "it isn't that bad of a steel" when D2 is considered to be a good blade steel and is used by very knowledgable custom makers.

Look through the links for knive you like. Look at the steel discussion we currently have going on (no need to repeat all that here). When you find a knife you like the look of pop back and ask about the details of the knife (liner locks don't get a lot of love because there are so many badly done vs. the good ones from Spyderco or Lionsteel).

http://www2.knifecenter.com/kc_new/...095&locktype=&style=&min_blade=0&max_blade=50

http://www2.knifecenter.com/kc_new/...el=&locktype=&style=&min_blade=0&max_blade=50

http://www2.knifecenter.com/kc_new/...el=&locktype=&style=&min_blade=0&max_blade=50
 
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hso said:
I'd consider it as misrepresenting the steel just a tad to say "it isn't that bad of a steel" when D2 is considered to be a good blade steel and is used by very knowledgable custom makers.

Look through the links for knive you like. Look at the steel discussion we currently have going on (no need to repeat all that here). When you find a knife you like the look of pop back and ask about the details of the knife (liner locks don't get a lot of love because there are so many badly done).
Click to expand...

Just my opinion on "not too bad of a steel". Some like it, others don't. I'm in the middle. Personal preference in use. I'd take a lower RC non-super stainless or the basic carbons, before D2.

As to liner locks....I try hard to stay away from that discussion here. I love them....[emoji16]
 
Yes their carbon steel knives, Super blue, Cruware, M4, upcoming 52100 etc... are geared more to knife knuts. And are priced accordingly.
 
Never used it. I have heard that it is a high quality stainless better than aus8 (which I am not a big fan of) but I am not really looking for a good stainless steel. I have a Benchmade in 154cm, how does vg10 compare to that?
 
What about the Benchmade's 154CM blade do you dislike, or what comparative qualities are you looking for, that's caused you to seek a folder with a 1095 or other carbon steel blade?
 
I have a Benchmade in 154cm, how does vg10 compare to that?
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I have a few Spydercos with VG10 and one Benchmade with 154. My experience with VG10 has been good. It is my favorite steel after S30V. I have more durable steels, but then they get tough to maintain, so I loath taking them them to the sharpening bench... I mean kitchen table.

Both exhibit reasonable edge retention. I cant tell much of a difference. Both resist stains, although I rarely deal with harsh environments. Sharpenability is close as well. However, VG10 takes a very keen edge while 154cm takes just a good, but not great edge. I can get a pretty decent shave with my Delica4. Facial hair, not just arm hair. But with EDC use that razor edge fades quickly. So in the end, for normal cutting tasks, I would consider them essentially equals.

M4 carbon steel gets rave reviews. Sounds like it puts 1095 to shame. I recently picked up Spyderco's Gayle Bradley folder to try it out. The jury is still out, but first impressions are good. And that is my only recommendation for a carbon folder of modern design, but it is well above the stated price range. It would be worth it in my opinion though. They are supossedly coming out with a new version two in 2016 as well.
 
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ugaarguy said:
What about the Benchmade's 154CM blade do you dislike, or what comparative qualities are you looking for, that's caused you to seek a folder with a 1095 or other carbon steel blade?
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I can't put a extremely sharp edge on the Benchmade 154cm like I can my carbon steels. I can put a razor edge on my carbon steel knives in a couple minutes but I seem to take a long time trying to hone in the 154cm, 440c, or aus8. I know that some people say that these are easy to sharpen but they are not as quick to hone as my carbon steels.
 
Ohhh, the steels we're talking about won't be as easy to sharpen, but they're going to hold an edge longer as well. That means you'll spend about the same amount of time sharpening, but you'll do it in fewer but longer sessions. You'll find that 1095 is about as easy to sharpen as you'll find if properly heat treated. If you're primary criteria is ease of sharpening instead of edge holding you should stick with the simpler carbon steels or look at the inexpensive 420HC from Buck.

Sorry, but I don't like any out the front knife for any day to day use. They don't tend to lock up well when they're as low as $45. You'd get more utility from a utility knife at a lower price.

It appears you'd find a lot of the threads on steel and knife design informative and you might enjoy the discussions in them as well.
 
hso said:
Ohhh, the steels we're talking about won't be as easy to sharpen, but they're going to hold an edge longer as well. That means you'll spend about the same amount of time sharpening, but you'll do it in fewer but longer sessions. You'll find that 1095 is about as easy to sharpen as you'll find if properly heat treated. If you're primary criteria is ease of sharpening instead of edge holding you should stick with the simpler carbon steels or look at the inexpensive 420HC from Buck.

Sorry, but I don't like any out the front knife for any day to day use. They don't tend to lock up well when they're as low as $45. You'd get more utility from a utility knife at a lower price.

It appears you'd find a lot of the threads on steel and knife design informative and you might enjoy the discussions in them as well.
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Yeah, I got to looking at the out-the-front and it looks pretty cheap.

From what I have read is that Mora uses a Sweedish 1095 equivalent and it sharpens in five seconds. I have a buck in 420HC and it doesn't hold an edge at all under heavy use. I have found that it is still harder to sharpen than my Mora.
 
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Hard to beat Moras for value. They're great knives and constantly, along with Opinel folders, get the vote for best knife for the money.
 
Found this, thoughts?
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Well, in your opening post you said you wanted a modern one hand opening folder. The Mercator isn't a one hand opener. I'm also not a fan of the lock bar release protruding from the handle vs having a flush lock bar and a recess in the handle to allow it to be released.

I can't put a extremely sharp edge on the Benchmade 154cm like I can my carbon steels. I can put a razor edge on my carbon steel knives in a couple minutes but I seem to take a long time trying to hone in the 154cm, 440c, or aus8. I know that some people say that these are easy to sharpen but they are not as quick to hone as my carbon steels.
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That actually helps quite a bit. I like steels like S30V/S35VN, 154CM, 440C, M390/CTS-204P that take a toothy edge and can still shave arm hair. You'd probably really like finer grain steels that easily take a honed razor edge. Uddeholm's AEB-L is a bit lower in carbon, but it's a super fine grained steel originally developed for shaving razors. Sandvik makes several variants of AEB-L, the most common of which are 12C27, 13C26, and 14C28N. You'd probably also like VG-10 because it will take a very fine and highly polished edge with very good retention. VG-10 is more abrasion resistant than more basic alloys, so it takes a little longer to sharpen, but it does take a much finer and more polished edge than 154CM with the same or less time and effort.

I know those aren't carbon steels, but I hope that helps you to find a less expensive and more widely available folder.
 
ugaarguy said:
Well, in your opening post you said you wanted a modern one hand opening folder. The Mercator isn't a one hand opener. I'm also not a fan of the lock bar release protruding from the handle vs having a flush lock bar and a recess in the handle to allow it to be released.

Yeah, it's not really what I was looking for but it just caught my eye.

That actually helps quite a bit. I like steels like S30V/S35VN, 154CM, 440C, M390/CTS-204P that take a toothy edge and can still shave arm hair. You'd probably really like finer grain steels that easily take a honed razor edge. Uddeholm's AEB-L is a bit lower in carbon, but it's a super fine grained steel originally developed for shaving razors. Sandvik makes several variants of AEB-L, the most common of which are 12C27, 13C26, and 14C28N. You'd probably also like VG-10 because it will take a very fine and highly polished edge with very good retention. VG-10 is more abrasion resistant than more basic alloys, so it takes a little longer to sharpen, but it does take a much finer and more polished edge than 154CM with the same or less time and effort.

I know those aren't carbon steels, but I hope that helps you to find a less expensive and more widely available folder.
Click to expand...

Yeah that helps a lot. Thank you very much.
 
Sandvik:

I did some research at your suggestion about the 12c, 13c, and 13c Sandvik steels. From what I read amy of them would be perfect for me. Mora and Opinel both use them so I could even get a cheaper one to try before a Kershaw that fits right into my price range. Thanks for the advice.
 
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