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

 

[Te Hopo]

Easy sharpening blades, I'd recommend Mora's and Victorinox knives.
Both seem to tickle up pretty easily

 

[CypressCreek]

All of the steel choices mentioned above are great steels. I'm partial to O1, 80CRV2, A2 and 1084 for high carbon steels. All take a great edge and are very easy to sharpen.

As for stainless, 440C and AEBL/14C28N/Nitro-V are going to be the easiest to sharpen while still having good edge retention (440C can have an iffy heat treat if it isn a custom knife)

The next step up would be 15;cm/cpm 154 and s35vn/s45vn

All the steels mentioned above can be sharpened on an old oil stone with relative ease.


After that you get into harder steels with more vanadium carbides. These steels respond better to diamond stones and are more difficult to sharpen for someone who isn't all that proficient in sharpening. And example of these steels is magnacut.

I make and sharpen a lot of knives and I can certainly say that AEBL is a top contender for me. I am very happy with the edge retention and corrosion resistance. And sharpening really is a breeze

 

[ElPollo]

Easy to sharpen is a more complex question than you’d think. It can be answered either with a softer steel, better sharpening technique, better sharpening equipment, or some combination thereof. If your sharpening technique isn’t there, I’d suggest getting a fixed angle sharpener with diamond stones like a KME, Worksharp, or Hapstone. If you’ve got the tools and know how to do it right, you’ll be able to deal with harder, higher end steels that hold edges longer and get better edges that are more durable on softer steels.

 

[peterk123]

I've become a big fan of magnacut. I find it easy to sharpen, including touching it up in the field. Holds an edge well. You can get them scary sharp pretty easily. I also like the ball bearing steel, 52100 I believe. Similar to the the magnacut, maybe a little less durable. But I'm splitting hairs.

I also have a benchmade that is cpm154. I love that one as well. I can get that one sharp again real easy. Excellent edge retention too.

Lots of good Steel out there.

 

[sivart]

I use the guided field sharpener if that makes a difference

 

[CypressCreek]

I use the guided field sharpener if that makes a difference

I am still pushing pretty hard towards AEBL. The guided field sharpener will put a great edge on that steel.

As others have said easy to sharpen can mean many different things. I try to look at things from the perspective of someone who isn't a "knife nerd". So when I say "easy to sharpen" I am speaking from the perspective of a sharpening novice. Steels without vanadium carbides are a lot easier to sharpen for someone who isn't a proficient sharpener.

 

[mcseal2]

I like 3V, AEB-L, and Magnacut.

1095, A2 and O1 are good steels, they just rust easier than my favorites and need touched up more often. 3V isn’t stainless but is harder to rust up than the ones listed above.

I like to use a guided table top sharpener or one that clamps the blade at home. In the field I like a ceramic rod I can use when I stand up to rest my back. I’ll have a Worksharp field sharpener at base camp or the truck just in case. I keep a leather strop with green compound on it at camp too.

 

[TaperPin]

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.....

Here’s a fun channel that describes a lot of sharpening stuff from basic to fancy. These fixed angle crock sticks kind of thing are easy to use and it’s easy to transition into a full size ceramic steel.