KnifeCenter FAQ #13: What is the Best Knife Steel? + Field Sharpeners, Left-Handed Knives and More!

Is there one knife steel to rule them all? We’ve also got field sharpening a convex grind, knives for left-handed use, and what Swiss Army Knives fit into MKM’s leather pocket sheath.

0:00 Intro
0:52 CIVIVI Elementum, But Bigger
5:30 Field Sharpening a Convex Edge
8:33 What is the Best Knife Steel?
10:22 Swiss Army Knives and MKM Pocket Sheaths
12:41 Left-Handed Knives
16:22 Ladies’ Budget EDC Folders

Featured Knives

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[timgore]

I love it when David C. Anderson comes at me from the Knifecenter.

[jakefromohiostate]

I converted a friend to a knife nut, he also has bad arthritis in both hands. I loves his Boker Autos. He has 2 Kalashnikov’s and one Boker Strike. Definitely budget, easy to use and a great knife. Hopefully this comment makes it to the right person.

[craighill]

This channel is THE BEST!! I'm a life long knife nerd and you guys answer every question I've ever had! Kudos gentlemen!

[benpalmer]

Hey David, I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and really like flippers with liner locks and ball bearings for pivot. Second choice is Spyderco with a back lock. The example you showed with the slower thumb opening is right on the mark. I have to forget about any flicking with any

[Bald_Head]

I have mild arthritis and I love the axis lock(or any version of it) Triad lock and compression lock all very easy opening and closing except for some triad locks that are stiff and of course there are always traditional folders

[adamclark]

As someone with arthritis I can say my Spyderco’s are my preferred edc, lock back and liner lock are both easy on my joints and opening is no problem. There are some flippers that work well too like the Civivi Elementum, Kershaw Leek. Almost anything with the Emerson wave also work well.

[dwaynemontgomery]

Arthritis comment here. I started carrying a cheap flipper with a liner lock a couple years and it was so much easier to open and close single handed that I finally upgraded this past December. I picked up a ZT 357 and absolutely love it! I would highly recommend any Kershaw assisted flipper to anyone with hand stiffness. When I picked up my ZT I also tried out some Benchmade models but couldn’t pinch the Axis lock well enough to get it closed. Also I can’t grip a frame lock knife correctly to get it to open. Some a couple things to avoid, in my opinion.

[caseygrubbs]

My favorite that I've used that stayed sharp and sharpened easy are cts-xhp and s30v also s35vn. All sharpened easy and stayed good and sharp but the cts-xhp is by far the best of all. It's scary sharp.

[MatisseStLaurent]

Man, I am in love with the whole line of Lionsteel knives!

[MS-rxit]

Larrin Thomas (the knife steel nerd) also has a book, if anyone wants a dead tree reference. I will also add that Sal Glesser has stated that no steel is better or worse than any other when price is a consideration.

[robertmansell]

Love this series, as a lefty I like that you do a section on your website for us.Benchmade and spyderco aren’t stupid and missing out on 13/14 percent of your potential market is pretty stupid, many good knives are let down by something as simple as a non reversible clip.

[Blakehx]

Great info as always! I’d like to see a comparison of knife grinds... different angles, off-set grinds, chisel grinds, etc!

[barrybaldwin]

Regarding folders for arthritic hands, I have found, at 70, that spring assist & obviously full auto flippers fill the bill. My favorite edc easy open spring assist is the Benchmade Vector in CPM-20V. This may be a moot point because, pricewise, I purchased it for $180. I paid outside my usual comfort pricepoint, but the easy opening & quality of fit, finish & steel alloy makes this a knife that I will hand down to my grandkids.

[NAVYWhistleblowerAssassin]

I, too, have limited dexterity in my hands though from lymph edema not arthritis. I have stage 4 cancer. It's accellerated and throughout my lymph node system and causes severe & crippling neuropathy in both hands. I'm currently shopping for accomadating knives. Fixed blades & folders. I haven't had ant issues with any in my collection, yet. I have a More Bushcraft, CRKT SPEW, Kershaw Hotwire, Artisan Cutlery Sea Snake, and I've got about 3 in my Knife Center cart.

[NighthawkEnforcer]

As a lefty, I always lean towards the Spydie hole type knives. Lockback or axis lock for sure.

[jacobbcox]

For the guy asking about best knife steel. Like David C. Andersen was saying best knife steel is a simple answer. So I'm going to try and answer this base on use.

So, the most used knives are that we use every day... kitchen knives you have a few options. VG-10 is great best my favorite steal is one of my favorite overall steals even if its everywhere S35VN. While VG-10 is amazing for a do it all its more budget friendly. You can find VG-10 kitchen knives between $75-200 usd each. I love the TOPS kitchen knives but a set is going to run you $1600 usd. Something I'm interested in is not a steel at all. Elastic ceramic could be amazing and what I will be interested in when more sets are available. Price not sure as mostly custom makes use as of now.

Budget steels are simple for me I love Sandvich 14C28N and D2 tool steel. If you are in the midwest and in a rather not humid environment D2 is amazing. But 14C28N is crazy good for the budget as it is more corrosive resistant easy to sharpen. Also some brands like Kershaw will give you chances with premium steels but occasionally they are not the best heat treat. This is where a steel is really made, the heat treatment makes or breaks a steel.

Now let's get to what most people are looking for. EDC for me Vanax 37 SuperClean. It just is elite at so many things going for it Hardness and Toughness while being stupid Corrosive Resistant. Problem is like elastic ceramic knives are far and few between. Problem like is said it isn't used enough. As of now QC Drift, QC Waypoint and a Shirogorov knives which for most will never happen. So for me what is available I love the triplets 204P, 20CV and Bohler M390. Which are close to being identical to each other.. Now all these steels are great they are not easy to sharpen like S35VN which isn't the easiest but far from 1 hour of hating yourself. S35VN is just overall a great steel. It can be used on a EDC, Kitchen knife and even outdoors knife as it has a great balance. Also why it is also very widely used. But many are tired of it. As you can find it on Kizer Gemini, CRK Pacific, TOPS kitchen knives. For me if you are trying to say most plyable S35VN wins. But it isn't number 1 in any role other than maybe the Jack of All Trades steel.

Last Outdoor steels are different depending on is it a Bushcraft or Survival knife. For bushcraft 3V is great, O1, A2, Elmax all are great but survival knifes 1095, 5160, 52100, and 80CrV2. Some are seen in cross over like 3V, Elmax, 1095. But you also have steels like VG-10 and 154CM.

Knives I would look at getting as you have your new addiction.
Giants Mouse Ace Biblio - M390 $175
ZT 0470 Sinkevich - 20CV $260
Microtech Combat Troodon- 204P $500
CIVIVI Elementum - D2 $52
Ruike P801SF - 14C28N $30
Kershaw Launch 11 - 154CM $100
Spyderco Delica - VG-10 $85
Spyderco Spydiechef - LC200N $235
CRK Sebenza 31 - S45VN $400+
Cold Steel Recon 1 - S35VN $99
Benchmade 940-2 - S30V $175
Benchmade Freek - M4 $200
Morakniv Companion - Sandvich HC $24
LT Wright Genesis - A2 $210
Survive! GSO 6 - 3V $275
QC Drift 2.0 - Vanax 37 SuperClean $305
ESEE 6 - 1095 $149
Cold Steel Tufflite - AUS8 $28
Fiskars N10 - High Carbon Steel $84
Gransfors Bruk #425 Outdoors Axe $184
Colonel Blades LowVZ - N690 $150
Benchmade Bugout S30V
Hogue Doug Ritter Mini RSK MK1G2 - 20CV $149
Spyderco Chaparral - XHP $100
Spyderco Para3 LW - SPY27 $140
Spyderco Shaman - Z Wear $210
Spyderco Paramilitary 2 - S35VN $159
LT Wright JX2 - O1 $235
TRC Apocalypse - Elmax $450
Emerson CQC-15 - 154CM $235
Kizer Gemini - S35VN $149
TRM Atom - 20CV $190
Buck 537 Open Season - S35VN $149
Bark River MACV SOG Bowie - 3V $269
Benchmade Proper - S30V $119
LionSteel Bestman - M390 $130
ProTech SBR - S35VN $200
ProTech Strider SnG - 154CM $240
ProTech Malibu - 20CV $210
Buck 112 LW - S35VN $80
Pena X Series Balisong - 154CM $415
Buck 110 - 420 HC $55
Boker Strike - D2 $50
Boker Mermaid - 440A $30
Hinderer XM18 3.5 - 20CV $425
Opinel 6, 7, and 8 - 12C27 $17 each
Leatherman Wave Plus - $99
Victorinox Mini Champ - $50
Victorinox Cadet - $14

If I was getting into knives again this would be my list. And if you need a Knife fix look at some Kershaw, CRKT, CIVIVI, Steel Will, Real Steel, CRJB, KaBar, ESEE, and OKC knives.

[mrbigberd]

For arthritis, I’d look at Opinel. It opens easily (no spring) and the lock is big and easy to maneuver.

[DeadRingerMachine]

I’ll make it REAL simple. The best steel for an EDC knife, taking into account edge retention, corrosion resistance, toughness, availability and price - the things that REALLY matter - is m390. It’s that simple.

[davidvance]

Arthritis; I'm right handed and have had that hand reconstructed twice. Easy operation on a budget, good size for a woman. CJRB Ria, and it comes in different configurations. Closing the liner lock is the hardest part of operation, but that's pretty light compared to similar styles. Great knife for the money. Good luck.

[BrandonMeyer]

As a lefty, I feel obligated to say this:

The spyderco compression lock knives meant for right handed people work totally fine for lefties. I own a para 3 lw in the standard configuration and don’t find the lock any more difficult to actuate.

Liner locks and frame locks are a totally different story, and I feel they are much easier to use when made for lefties specifically. As a result I usually avoid liner and frame locks at all costs.