General Consensus On EDC Blade Steel

[skeletorusmc]

Just curious to what everyone prefers out of modern steel on their EDC.

 

[sndmn11]

M4

 

[flyfisher117]

Not really modern but S30V and S45VN are some of my favorites for edc. I try not to abuse m knives with non knife tasks but it happens and both steels take it. Both are able to take an edge and both hold it acceptably for me. Neither requires a ton of work to clean up the edge either.

Been trying to love Magnacut but I keep going back to the other two.

 

[43.6N]

That it’s sharp and can be easily sharpened.

Field dressed a spur of the moment deer with a kershaw folder. Was able to quickly put an edge back on once home. All blades get dull eventually. And dull blades just aren’t worth carrying. I just want to be sure I can quickly and easily sharpen it after use.

 

[RADunfee]

Give me AEB-L or 14c28n and I'm fine. Magnacut too, especially for fixed blade edc.

 

[IW17]

On a pocket knife anything stain resistant and holds an edge for a while. I don't want my edc to need touched up throughout the day. On any other knife I prefer some high carbon and easily touched up with a steel.

 

[Sinistram]

I vote either S30V or 154CM. Like.others have said, I want something that's easy to sharpen when it inevitably gets dull. That's one of the reasons I generally stay away from the super steels.

 

[skeletorusmc]

I vote either S30V or 154CM. Like.others have said, I want something that's easy to sharpen when it inevitably gets dull. That's one of the reasons I generally stay away from the super steels.

How about magnacut? It's as easy to sharpen as 154 CM but keeps its edge longer, and less brittle from my experience.

 

[43.6N]

How about magnacut? It's as easy to sharpen as 154 CM but keeps its edge longer, and less brittle from my experience.

That’s what my main skinning knife is made of. I’m happy with it. I don’t think I would necessarily pay the premium for an edc tool made from magnacut though.
Purpose driven knife: yes 100%
Daily beater utility knife: no

IMO my daily knives are like shovels or hammers. I don’t stress the type of steel. And when it breaks and can’t be fixed, I’ll find another that fills the role.

 

[JAshley73]

My favorite ever was 154cm, though it's not as popular anymore. Sharpened easily, got wicked sharp, and kept an edge well enough.

I have S30v, 3v, and D2 blades now. I don't really like any of them. D2, despite having tons of chrome will still rust easily if you're not careful, and has massive carbides, and is tough to get a sharp edge. Ask a Tool & Die maker about D2, and they'll probably cuss...

The high-vanadium-steels' carbide grains are actually so hard, that conventional stones won't cut those grains, meaning you can't get a real "sharp" edge, or you have to switch to diamond stones. They also seem to require stropping to get rid of the wire-edge. I'm just not a huge fan.



My take - Find the knife that you like, and don't pay that much attention to the blade steel.

 

[imiesbach]

Been a fan of S30V. I've had some in S90V that had the tendency to want to chip.

 

[JulietFoxtrot]

I like s30v for a daily driver. I've carried multiple benchmades for a decade, as of the last year or so I've been pocketing a spyderco paramilitary 2.

A good pocket box cutter will save your knife edge.

 

[Sinistram]

How about magnacut? It's as easy to sharpen as 154 CM but keeps its edge longer, and less brittle from my experience.

That’s what my main skinning knife is made of. I’m happy with it. I don’t think I would necessarily pay the premium for an edc tool made from magnacut though.
Purpose driven knife: yes 100%
Daily beater utility knife: no

IMO my daily knives are like shovels or hammers. I don’t stress the type of steel. And when it breaks and can’t be fixed, I’ll find another that fills the role.

I've had no personal experience with Magnacut, only heard the hype and claims. However, I simply don't see the point in paying a premium for my daily beater.

 

[sndmn11]

I've had no personal experience with Magnacut, only heard the hype and claims. However, I simply don't see the point in paying a premium for my daily beater.

The argument would be for your exact use case; stainless with the toughness of a durable carbon steel. It might mean your daily beater becomes a lifetime beater.

 

[Bearded Gnome]

I like D2 steel or some high carbon tool steel. But I have made a couple of light weight 3.5 " blades with an old solid blade from a reciprocating saw blade. Had to cut it with an abrasive cut off wheel. It was a Starret blade. No welded teeth. Be Well Brothers, BG.

 

[43.6N]

The argument would be for your exact use case; stainless with the toughness of a durable carbon steel. It might mean your daily beater becomes a lifetime beater.

Excellent point. I love my magnacut skinner. I skinned and boned out 2 cow elk without touching it up.

My wife has a tendency to steal my knives (and screwdrivers and steel punches and chisels) and will use them to prod up garden roots and open paint cans (because she was literally raised in a barn smh). No magnacut for her.

As a result I have a handful of cheapish beater knives that are actively in use at any one time. I keep up on their edges, but don’t lose any sleep when they go missing or break.

 

[Matt5266]

Im loving the steel on my newer EDC knife. Its a Zero Tolerance with CPM CRUWEAR