Which blade steel?

[Travis2282]

So I am in the process of doing a custom shop bench made mini crooked river knife. I have many lightweight knives for hunting so this is gonna be my every day carry knife. My options for blade steels are s30v 20cv m4 or s90v. I would like it to hold a good edge, but also be able to sharpen it without too much hassle! Thanks guys!

 

[CGS55]

I own s30v, m4, and s90v. My dedicated skinning knife is in s90v due to edge retention. My overall outdoors/hunting knife is s30v because its less rigid than s90v but still holds its edge well (I accidentally snapped the edge of s90v last year because of its extra strength/hardness). I like m4 for daily carry because I know I'll be able to keep it clean and dry and won't have to worry about corrosion like I would while hunting. So if your knife is for everyday carry I think you'd be hard pressed to beat m4!

 

[sndmn11]

I have a few M4 blades and that would be first choice of the options followed by s90v.

 

[Shraggs]

Access to a2 (closer to 59 rockwell), s35vn? I like those based on your criteria

 

[Lawnboi]

All the steels mentioned besides m4 are stainless, and imo fairly hard to sharpen. Also won’t have the toughest edges. A little practice and can be done but it’s not like sharpening A2, aebl, 3v or a carbon steel.

On top of that, heat treat is just as if not more important that the type of steel used.

If this is your first step into a higher end steel you could probably pick any and be satisfied.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I would disagree w the M4 re: stainless also. Have a Spyderco Bradley 2 in front of me with finger prints in the steel I cannot remove. Lots of great attributes to M4....but it will discolor and stain

 

[Beendare]

I have experience

_

 

[sndmn11]

I would disagree w the M4 re: stainless also. Have a Spyderco Bradley 2 in front of me with finger prints in the steel I cannot remove. Lots of great attributes to M4....but it will discolor and stain

That's what I love about tool steel! Patina is sweet.
I need a Bradley 2 to complete my Spydie Bradley set....

 

[Geedubya]

A user collector here, A2 is one of my fav's a

Etching A2 minimizes the noticiablity of a patina!

Nessmuk set, etched A2, Gene Ingram

Nessmuk Set, Etched A2, Howe Mountain Knives

Etched A2, Menefee Made Knives

Randall #1 Fighter by Rick Menefee, Etched A2

ya!

GWB

 

[mcseal2]

I’ve become a big fan of 3V in a fixed blade. It can be made tough enough for my needs in a thinner blade that slices better.

I really like my Battle Horse or Blind Horse O1 steel knives too. The patina is cool.

ESEE does an excellent job on 1095 carbon steel.

My favorite steel for a folder is S35 or S30V. I really like ZT’s S35VN.

 

[Valkyrie]

I am not a fan of the super steels. They perform well and I won’t argue that but I find them to take more time to sharpen and more difficult to maintain. Verses a high carbon tool steel that hones easily and stays wicked sharp with a few swipes on a strop as you go.

of the steels you listed, S30V is my pick. Otherwise good ol 1095 and a proper heat treat.

 

[Totoro]

I've owned factory and customs in all the steels above. Outta those offered 20CV is my choice.

However, why not just send it back to BM for resharpen?

 

[never.truly.lost]

Take a look at Carothers Performance Knives as well.
They do a couple of steels but they have a 3V that is tweaked during heat treat which makes it basically stainless.
I find it super easy to sharpen in the field and it holds an edge like nothing else I have used.

 

[sndmn11]

Take a look at Carothers Performance Knives as well.
They do a couple of steels but they have a 3V that is tweaked during heat treat which makes it basically stainless.
I find it super easy to sharpen in the field and it holds an edge like nothing else I have used.

He beats the lordy bananas heck out of those blades too. If a guy carried a small steel or ceramic stone to strop on while processing in the field, those tough steels like 3v, 4v, Cruwear/PD1, are great choices.

 

[Marbles]

I'm happy with Benchmade's S90V in my EDC folder (a mini Griptilian). I have not chipped the edge on my EDC, or on a Saddle Mountain Skinner, or on an M390 Benchmade that was an EDC before this (M390 is pretty close to S90V). However, I have chipped the edge on my S90V Benchmade Altitude.

S90V is more abrasion resistant than M4, but M4 is a tougher steel and can take a more acute edge angle, which will tend to stay sharp longer. That is theory though as I don't have direct experience with M4 due to living near salt water and corrosion problems with a D2 EDC.