easier sharpening blade

[sivart]

What type of steel do I want to look for in a knife that is fairly easy to touch up? Being i'm not an expert knife sharpener.....

 

[mtnbound]

What type of steel do I want to look for in a knife that is fairly easy to touch up? Being i'm not an expert knife sharpener.....

I like Magnacut.

 

[sndmn11]

Anything low on edge retention, thinner stock, and it will help a lot of it is a tough steel.

D2, aebL, magnacut, 3v

 

[RWT]

Unless it is Powder D2 I won’t touch it. Carbides are to large and I’ve never had luck putting a fine edge on one. But that shows my lack of sharpening skills. It does provide a rough grabby edge though. I like Magnacut, elmax, 3v and infini. O1 and SR101 tool steeels take a great edge and are very easy to touch up but rust very quickly.

 

[CypressCreek]

If you need stainless and something that is easy to touch up, holds a good edge, and is plenty tough, you can't go wrong with AEBL. It is a great knife steel, can skin and quarter out game without needing to stop in the middle for sharpening and it can be honed on pretty much anything, including the bottom of a coffee mug.

 

[sierracharlie338]

01 tool steel, 1084, 1095, 440c, 154CM, CPM154, elmax, AEB-L, magnacut

01 tool steel, 1084, 1095 - high carbon steel, very easy to sharpen and economical, will rust quickly

440c, 154CM, CPM154, elmax, AEB-L - stainless, easy to sharpen a little more expensive, can rust if neglected but nothing like high carbon.

magnacut - “super steel”, little tougher to sharpen than above but nothing like other super steels, very “stain” resistant and holds a great edge (tough). Most expensive of the group.

My choice 1095, 154cm and magnacut.

Caveat: D2 is a great steel if heat treat is done correctly and sharpened correctly. Not a great steel for “beginners” as the types of D2 different greatly. The adage of D2 taking “a bad edge and hold it forever” seems to hold true, it’s very tough.

 

[Shraggs]

If truly a beginner, 420hc also known as Buck Knives steel is very forgiving and easy to sharpen. They have a few very decent design like the vanguard. It’s a stainless that isn’t brittle. Factory edge usually 35 degrees but if you can keep it 25 -35 per side you’ll be good. Longer sharp retention the higher edge angle you go, but less sharp initially.

No offense to the above list but cpm 154, Elmax are not easy to sharpen if you’re a novice. Not used AEB or magnacut.

Agree any of the carbon steels are great for ease of sharpening and get very sharp easy. I’d add A2.

 

[S-3 ranch]

Start with a carbon steel Moraknifv very easy to sharpen
A worksharp guided sharpener on any stainless steel, then touch up either with a diamond kitchen steel or a ceramic stick