24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,176
L
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
L
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,176
If looking for a stainless steel knife what stainless steel would be you be looking for? I'm favoring stainless for multi use on trips where I'm likely to encounter wet conditions.

BP-B2

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 458
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 458
I like S30V, but that's just me.

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Depends. How good are ya at sharpening knives?

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
S30V is real good, but not the easiest to sharpen for some folks.

I also like VG-10 and 154 CM......

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,612
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,612
S30V...


Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
IC B2

Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 34
V
Campfire Greenhorn
Offline
Campfire Greenhorn
V
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 34
Originally Posted by LostHighway
I'm favoring stainless for multi use

Talking about stainless steel and multi use, my favorite is the Leatherman Wave stainless still blade, 17 tools, reliable, great quality, and just under $100. Always have with me smile

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 802
T
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
T
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 802
S30V,ZDP 189, M390-but only for folders and only if you have diamond stones and know how to use them.

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,909
P
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
P
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,909
Originally Posted by 2muchgun
S30V is real good, but not the easiest to sharpen for some folks.

I also like VG-10 and 154 CM......


All 3 of these are my favorites. With the top being s30v.

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,560
Campfire Kahuna
Online Happy
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,560
strictly subjective, but for a hard use outdoors knife, I like the S30V. For a dead animal processing knife, I like the 154CM.
These over lap, but they are my favorites.


Sam......

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,176
L
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
L
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,176
Fair at sharpening knives. And it would be a fixed blade. I've been doing some reading on steels and found there are many different types of stainless steel. I'll look into S30V and 154CM. Anyone familiar with CPM154?

IC B3

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,114
M
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
M
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,114
Elmax will hold an edge longer than s30v and is easier to sharpen. 154 is easier to sharpen than either one for general field use. Grind and heat treat are still more important than steel.


Check out my new website

http://www.howemtnknives.com/
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
I was gonna say Elmax also, problem is I still haven't really used it and sharpened it.

I guess I am not real picky in regards to steel being stainless or not, as long as it is done correctly. Each year I happily tote 1095, D2, A2, 52100, and/or or O-1 afield more than any of the stainless steels. 5160 and 1076-6C also.

If you think about it:

1095 remains the most popular knife steel of all time.

D2 is favored by more custom makers than any other steel IMO.

Convex ground A2 is the favorite or most widely used steel by Bark River. Which produces arguably the most popular and best made semi production fixed blade knife today.

Convex ground 52100 (ball bearing steel) is what Marbles used a lot of, and their knives are known to flat out cut. It is also a very tough steel. They remain one of the top 3 most collected knives in the world.

FWIW, Marbles also just happened to put out some the best (heat treated) 1095 of probably anybody ever. Not JMO, but Bob Dozier's and Ed Fowler's as well (amongst others). The 1076-6C they put out was amazing in several rope cutting tests.

And O-1 is what Randall uses. The most well known custom knife maker in the U.S. and maybe the world. Jim Behring of Treeman knives is a huge fan of Scagel, Randall, and Marbles. He uses mainly convex ground O-1, and his knives cut better than well.

He!! I used a Buck 105 on probably 20 whitetail. They do 420 as well as anyone ever has. It doesn't hold an edge as long as the others, but sharpens extremely easily and I don't know wtf it would take to make it rust cuz believe me, I have tried. It is easily the most rust proof knife steel I have ever encountered. Touch it up after every 1-2 critters, and it is good to go. I will probably hand that knife down to my nephew in Colorado.

LOTS of great steels out now. I have nothing bad to say about the stainless S30V, 154, Elmax, VG-10, or ATS-34. Have even been known to slum some 440C.

But when it comes down to it, I still think convex ground tool steel with a wicked heat treat is the most cuttingest stuff out there.

JMO....

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,065
T
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
T
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,065
for me, if multi-use includes dressing game, the easiest to touch up in the field


Defend the Constitution
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,972
R
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
R
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,972
For normal field use where I might get caught in a rain or two I would have no qualms with a Dozier in D2 with his Wilderness sheath. The excellent Kydex sheath would be just as important since any leather will hold water no matter how well it's treated. D2 won't rust nearly as easily as many carbon steels that you have to constantly protect.

If I had to go full stainless I am very fond of the Helle knives with their 3 layers of bonded stainless. They are both easy to sharpen and keep a razor edge.

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,747
J
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
J
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,747
S30V, S35VN, Elmax in that order. I've used S30V more that the other two by a large margin....either of the other two may be a little better or a little worse...I can't say for sure.

Regarding sharpening, diamonds aren't just a girl's best friend!

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 24,318
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 24,318
I used to shy away from D2. Recently though I have gotten in some boning knives by Bret Dowell . Pretty high Rc,high satin polish & super thin slicer grinds. I have yet to see a spot,used daily in my kitchen & we cook a lot of salt water seafood. I can't dull it & it cuts & cuts.

Don't over think it. Like Dale Howe says & word is,it's more about the grind & heat treat.

I've never came across too many outdoorsman that would take an expensive knife afield , and deliberately neglect it.

Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,242
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,242
As already mentioned, Buck knives have great steel and sharpen easier than getting laid on prom night. The cryogenic treated 420HC is a pleasure to work with. Went with S30V from Benchmade and came back to Buck. Just me.


"Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money." -Tom T Hall

Molon Labe
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,102
M
Campfire Tracker
Online Content
Campfire Tracker
M
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,102
I am currently working on a batch of blades I made out of CPM 154 at 61Rc with double cryo cycle. I have sharpened a couple and am really impressed with what I personally see. A couple of 'fire members will be able to give a report on how it performs in the field and relative to other steels.

I have used 52100, A2, 440C, 154 CM, CPM S30V and now CPM 154.
All have performed very well.
Its all about the geometry and the heat treat you know.
Just my observation.
Tim


"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."
Albert Einstein

At Khe Sanh a sign read "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected never knew".
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,176
L
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
L
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,176
Lots of good info. I like what I have heard about the Elmax steel. Been looking at the First Edge 5150. Would a custom made be in the same dollar ball park?

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,477
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,477
Have Gene Ingram make you one of his patterns from S30V. I have one, you won't be disappointed and don't worry about S30V being difficult to sharpen. The edge lasts forever and if it dulls Gene will touch it up for no charge.

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
499 members (10gaugeman, 1lessdog, 160user, 17CalFan, 222Sako, 007FJ, 43 invisible), 2,518 guests, and 1,095 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,733
Posts18,400,973
Members73,822
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.119s Queries: 15 (0.004s) Memory: 0.8967 MB (Peak: 1.0472 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-29 12:28:48 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS