Blade Steel Doesn't Matter

Does blade steel matter? Some say Yes and some say No. Let sis know what you think below.

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[kennthwilliamson]

You have spoken the unspoken words that shall not be mentioned. You mentioned so many things that I'm guilty of. Especially the grabbing of a lesser quality knife to do a job. Brutally honest video. Way to go! Now I'm going to start using those higher dollar knives for tougher tasks.

[SigogglinJack]

This constant changing up of steel composition is a product of the internet and more especially YouTube. I’m 60 and have seen this SuperSteel hype explode at the same time YouTube knife channels and instagram and all the rest were growing. People are enticed to buy the latest and greatest. We we were cutting stuff just fine in the 60's, 70's, 80’s and 90's. Now this years “Super Steel” will be old news in a few months. Just my opinion. Great video.

[franka]

I'm just a knife steel nerd! I've got everything from an Opinel in carbon steel to some of the latest in MagnaCut. I love reading about the variety of steels and their different properties. It's fascinating to me how the content of the steel and the way it's processed and heat-treated results in so many different characteristics.

[TylerHelton]

Could not agree more. My grandfathers Old Time 8OT with 1095 blades has seen more hard work than my high end blade ever will. After 20+ years of him carrying it and me having it since his passing in 2013 it’s still a good knife that will cut whatever I need to cut.

[Slinky]

I could almost argue that heat treating is as important as blade steel!

[willglo]

This discussion reminds me of the 9mm vs. .45acp argument.

[SteelNSpiritPrime]

💯
To your point… I live in a neighborhood, work in an office, and carry M390 to cut Amazon boxes and rope because of its edge retention and corrosion resistance. I also choose to drive my kids to school over paved roads in a Jeep Grand Cherokee because of its exceptional 4x4 capability. 🤣 Murica!

Blade steel is just one little piece of what makes our crazy obsession with knives so beautiful.

[BolsteredBlades]

For me, steel doesn't really matter. If I'm going to clear my property, I'll take the right tool for the right job. So it's just for the value of collection. If the knife speaks to me...I want it! Thanks TC!

[KnifeChatswithTobias]

I think what matters more is how well you can sharpen the steel you’re using. I like 440a and 1095 because I can sharpen it fairly easy and get it razor sharp using a variety of items, including wet stones and sandpaper.

Preaching to the choir, my friend.

BTW…

Most of my packages that get opened are from eBay or SMKW. I rarely buy from Amazon.

I use wire cutters for zip ties right tool for the right job.

And finally, I use an OTF for cutting boxes. Yes, it’s a box cutter with a replaceable razor blade.

[Sanctified_Leather]

Absolute facts !!! Thank You 🙏 amazing facts & Points !!! Wholly agree with everything you’ve stated!!! 👍

[edwardbrandwein]

You've put into words what I've always felt. When I have a messy cutting job, the old beater comes out.

[YPEDC]

I’ve been thinking about this subject a lot lately. I have a couple of really nice knives that have been pocket princesses for a while. But I came to the realization that those materials were used so that it can withstand hard use. The hardest things I cut on a regular basis is either wood or large plastic straps that tie pallets together.

[richardkev]

Yup. Right on all points. I have a couple of premium (okay, almost premium) knives, and I’ve seldom used them. What have a used the most? A tiny knife with VG-10 steel. It does more than 95% of everything I need a knife for. But my premium knives? Mostly I admire them.

And when I need to break down a bunch of boxes? I reach for a box-cutter with replaceable blades.

[Barney_Greenway]

Basically I second your thoughts. When it comes to sharpening, I like the differences in how the edge strops to a sharp edge. Celery root can be pretty tough as well as sweet potato. Edge geometry in the short run provides a significant difference in performance. Elmax, 15V and S45VN are my current favorites for different tasks. Cheers from Germany 🍻

[toddcarr.]

To me the most important thing is heat treat with any steel pertaining to its intended use, and it being priced in accordance to its level of performance. In areas that are important to you Such as toughness, stainless, edge retention etc.. or a combination of those traits you get what you pay for generally. The better the heat treat on a piece of steel the easier it's going to be to sharpen it and keep that edge maintained where if it's poorly treated you'll get things like chipping, rolled edges, and overall sub par performance. As far as sharpening goes Higher end steels are relatively easy to sharpen when using the proper stones such as diamond ones and that goes to using the proper tools for a job at hand. Some steels such as 420hc, 440C, and 14C28N can be sharpened easily on whetstone, sandpaper, or even rocks in a pinch where steels like S110V you will struggle on a whetstone because the steel is harder than the stone. In today's sharpening world diamond stones are affordable and can be used on any steel to get sharp along with diamond emulsions for stropping. A well heat treated piece of steel is a pleasure to sharpen vs struggling with a poorly treated one in almost every instance. I personally think that 14C28N is a steel that i would be more than happy with for the rest of my life for outdoor usage and in the kitchen, along with regular carbon steel in my carving knives for woodworking indoors, but having the option for something better such as Magnacut means that i have to sharpen less often is nice as well. Also for those who have no interest in sharpening and send thier knives out for that service will appreciate those higher end steels that have to be sharpened less often. It will mean more money up front but will save you in the long run as maintenance is something every knife needs if it's being used. Sorry for the long comment lol. Thanks for the great vid and keep making sharp things fun and enjoyable

[TwitchRadio]

The way I like to weigh my options or what I like to call my perfect balance is as follows (how much it matters ratio😂:

25%- type of steel vs its purpose
25% - grip type and size
25% - Deployment type (I'm all fixed blade)
25% - Value versus expected longevity

I weigh these four categories out before I buy a knife, and I've come to the conclusion there's only a handful of value steals I would buy but I always end up coming back to 14C28N sandvik stainless steel... And for a higher end steal, well I'm still debating on that but right now Elmax has been up there for some years now ( fell in love with it with the giant mouse fix blade I got years ago)...

Anyways there's my two cents on the subject😂.. Have a great day y'all 😎✌️

[zero]

I’m a forklift mechanic by trade and most of the time, my knife is used to open parts boxes, straps and plastic bags. Sure I have the occasional odd ball thing to cut but I’m mostly cutting cardboard and plastic. I have used S30V, SPY27, CTS BD1N, 20CV, D2, and bucks 420HC. After using those steels, D2 and S30V stood up the best. S30V is my favorite steel because it holds an edge very well after A LOT of cutting, and it’s fairly easy to sharpen. In the woods, though, I prefer 420HC from Buck. I can whittle and carve wood, process game, and do whatever I need to without worrying about edge damage. I can also bring the edge back to life with just a few passes on my strop or ceramic stone. Of course, I always have a SAK with me at all times and if the blades get dull, they’re super easy to bring back to screaming sharp.

[SalamandoD]

I always laugh at how people in this community complain about soft heat treats (particularly from Italian makers) when the majority of their use is as you said: breaking down cardboard and cutting open other knife boxes/Amazon packages. It's so easy to jump on bandwagons.

It's no fun owning a rad knife and letting it collect dust. Where's the joy in that? I love using my knives. But maybe that's just me 😉 Unless it's a legit collector's item or has sentimental value, I'm gonna enjoy making use of my tools as they were intended. And sometimes I just reach for my box cutter. Use the best tool for the job, don't try to justify your knife's existence!

Thanks for a sensible take on this subject, TC! 😎👍👊

[avdmustang]

I think some people secretly are afraid to sharpen or don’t know how, so they opt for knives with superb edge retention instead.

[alexdetrojan]

Finally someone spitting some truth. My favorite steel is properly heat treated 420 J2. Knife snobs can laugh, but this steel and 420 HC has served me well for decades...