Best steel for bushcraft

[Captianbullseye]

I was looking into buying some metal to start a bushcraft knife making project. I wanted to have a good not expensive steel that can hold an edge pretty well and be sharp for long periods of time. I wouldn't be around salt water so rust is not a big problem

 

[tradertator]

I know absolutely nothing in regards to building a knife, but I think high carbon steel when it comes to a Bushcraft knife, such as 1095, O1, A2, etc....
Lots of the Scandinavian stuff utilizes laminated blades with something hard in the middle, sandwiched between something softer to give it some flex. But I have no idea how one could accomplish that on their own.

 

[Tactically Fat]

I'm not an all a knife expert:

But there are a couple schools of thought: "Super steel" / tool steel that, once sharp, will stay sharp for a long time through lots of working.

A slightly milder steel that may require periodic touching up / sharpening while in the field and being used heavily.

Do you want to take the time to work ON the knife while in the field? If so, then 440c or 154cm would be pretty good steels. Probably not for chopping blades, though. Low maintenance as far as rust prevention, too, from what little I do know.

Something that'll be great for heavy use and may require a bit of touch up? 1055 / 1095 and several others in the family. ESEE uses 1095 in the majority (all?) of their knives. Inexpensive, and it takes a beating. Easily sharpened - but requires some measure of rust prevention.

Tool steels / super steels: Hard to work with, but can stay sharper longer doing the same tasks as above. Can be a real bear to re-sharpen, especially "in the field".

 

[RAMBOCAT]

1095 to 1065 is the only way to go. I prefer 1095. But with any steel, it's all in the heat treat.

 

[grunt soldier]

Tom Krien says his 3 favorite bushcraft steels are 0-1, A2 and 3v! the man makes some of the sharpest knives on the planet so his word carries some weight with me. Only downside to 3v is it's not really easily sharpened in the field unless your carrying a actual kit!

 

[UGaARguy]

Is your priority edge retention (for lots of light to medium tasks for example) or impact resistance / toughness (lots of chopping or batoning)?

 

[ISP 5353]

O1, 1095, S30V, take your pick. Lots of great steels out there right now. Good heat treat is critical though. I would be hard pressed to call one steel much better than several others. Pick a knife design you like and try it.