Edge retention

[prowland]

I was wondering... What steel has the best edge retention. Everything set aside, what steel will stay sharp the longest?

The uses are the same as an EDC pocket knife.

I don't care about how hard it is to sharpen or price...

 

[tyler34]

now your talking my language!!!!!!!! as of right now I'm gonna say ZDP-189. also way up there is CPM S90V and 110V, my personal favorite steel CPM M4, bohlers M390, and CPM M2. the king of all steel IMEO is pretty much impossible to get but will beat these steels hands down is CPM REX121.

 

[Que]

now your talking my language!!!!!!!! as of right now I'm gonna say ZDP-189. also way up there is CPM S90V and 110V, my personal favorite steel CPM M4, bohlers M390, and CPM M2. the king of all steel IMEO is pretty much impossible to get but will beat these steels hands down is CPM REX121.

Now go clean up.

 

[ATM]

now your talking my language!!!!!!!! as of right now I'm gonna say ZDP-189...

Like a moth to the flame...

I also like the ZDP-189 as an EDC.

 

[tyler34]

Now go clean up.

if I were in public I wouldn't be able to stand up.

 

[tradertator]

REX121 looks insane. I would LOVE to have a DDC SNG in it.

 

[DaKruiser]

Wow 72rc, that is insane! So when you gonna get some so we can make a chopper Tyler?

 

[Bradsknives]

Why are the pages in this thread sticky?

 

[Bigdee06]

For the uninitiated among us what is the main quality in steel your looking for as edge retention goes? And what make those certain types of steel so difficult to get? Is it just a matter of expense or is it a regulated item for some reason.

 

[chraland51]

To get a knife made in one of the mentioned steels, do you have to go through a knife maker to have one specially made? I have never seen much more than Rockwell hardness given for most knives in catalogs and common web pages.

 

[Rob377]

My M390 Benchmade has been holding up pretty darn good. Much better than the S30V and VG-10 Sydies I've had in the past. One of these days I'll get the ZDP Delica.

 

[tyler34]

no most of the steels mention are used in factory productions some are limited editions or sprint runs.

 

[rhino]

now your talking my language!!!!!!!! as of right now I'm gonna say ZDP-189. also way up there is CPM S90V and 110V, my personal favorite steel CPM M4, bohlers M390, and CPM M2. the king of all steel IMEO is pretty much impossible to get but will beat these steels hands down is CPM REX121.

Are you limiting to just stainless and semi-stainless alloys?

Those are all great, but how do they compare to some of the better tool steels?

 

[tyler34]

m4 m2 and rex121 are all tool steels.

 

[prowland]

I have a buck packlite (not sure on the name) that I want a similar knife for EDC.

But I want to design the knife and then have someone make it for me.

Any leads on some of that Rex steel?

 

[mwmccormick]

So far my fave has been CPM-M4. I picked a spydie Gayle Bradley and it has spent more time in my pocket than any other. I never cease to be amazed at how easy it is to maintain the edge on a sharpmaker.

 

[rhino]

m4 m2 and rex121 are all tool steels.

I did not know that, sir!

How does your list compare to old timey alloys like A-2 or O-1?

What is most common in the cutting competitions nowadays? 5160?

 

[tyler34]

I did not know that, sir!

How does your list compare to old timey alloys like A-2 or O-1?

What is most common in the cutting competitions nowadays? 5160?

A2 is still a great steel O1 I'm not so hot on for edge retention. most common in comps is M4 but I know there are a couple 52100 blades around.

 

[rhino]

Thanks!

 

[sadclownwp]

what is the news on Spyderco H-1 steel?