Steel Comparison - Stainless

Continuing the comparison project, I delve into stainless steels. All steels listed here are used by knife makers, both custom, and production. All steels here can be good knife steels, while some may be considered less than desirable, with proper heat treatments.

Keep in mind that for the sake of this project the steels are compared to each other, not on their own. So if a steel received a low rating in one category, that is only because the other steels that received a better rating are generally considered better in that category.

Also keep in mind that each rating is not that steels general rating, it is just its ranking compared to the other steels. Meaning, just because a steel received a 1/10 ranking in Stain resistance, doesn't mean it has horrible stain resistance, it just means that it has the least of the ten steels compared.

(Click on a time to go strait to the category or steel)

Category - Time

Durability - 0:44
Strength - 1:08
Toughness - 1:32
Stain Resistance - 1:55
Edge Holding - 2:19
Ease of Sharpening - 2:43

Steel - Time

154CM - 3:07
420HC - 3:32
440C - 3:55
AUS-10 - 4:18
BG-42 - 4:42
CPM S30V - 5:05
CPM S60V - 5:29
CPM S90V - 5:53
Sandvik 12C27 - 6:17
VG-10 - 6:41

Thanks for watching, feel free to leave opinions on the steels you know, I always welcome constructive criticism!

If you have any questions feel free to comment or PM me, I will reply.

Category:

Education

Tags:

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• steel
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• 154CM
• 420HC
• 440C
• AUS10
• AUS-10
• 10A
• BG42
• BG-42
• S30V
• S60V
• S90V
• Sandvik
• 12C27
• VG-10
• VG10
• knives
• steels
• alloy
• durability
• strength
• toughness
• stain
• resistance
• edge
• holding
• ease
• of
• sharpening
• composition

[jons4real]

Is this all researched out? I really have no idea and dont want to trust in someones opinion

[QuietBearr]

@jons4real Then do your own research

[jons4real]

@QuietBearr Easy killer.... I didnt add it to my favs list because I wanted to bash it. I was just asking. So is it....

[QuietBearr]

@jons4real It is

[angryjapanesenigga]

400c was not developed for jet engine blades. maybe you are thinking of ats-34? anyways, jet engine blades are made from Nickel and cobalt based superalloys, using a powder metallurgy process called ultrasonic Gas Atomization, I mention it because its the same process used to make some boutique alloys that you compare eg Crucible S30V

[QuietBearr]

@angryjapanesenigga Boutique alloy? What steel world do you visit the knife world from? S30v is no "boutique alloy" In the knife world (as it was made specifically for the knife world).

Seriouisly, what exierence with steel do you have.  Sounds to me like you have very little in knives, but a lot in whatever field you are in. And you think the two relate.

[RonnieRocker]

Sandvik 12C27 is pretty known for durability / edge holding so 2/10 is surprising. Also stain resistance is said to be pretty good, not so equivalent to 2/10.

[1joshjosh1]

Thank you for this posting,my brain hurts with all this new info!!!

[tmr11059]

420hc in the video should be 420j2....right??

[dontevercomehere]

i have no choic but to side with most of you out there this info is not backed up by any concrete steel chart or nothing except the small details at the bottom of the screen

[jhynesyahoo]

good info, is vg 1 better or worse than vg10?

[jimmyhendrix87]

Of course heat treatment is a very important factor ...and in no way is every 154 cm the same. But this video is totaly out of the ball park.

[jimmyhendrix87]

What?! ...154 cm is tougher then s30v because of its lower carbon....s30v (higher carbon = better edge retention but LESS TOUGHNESS)will shatter before 154 cm. And s30v is way harder to sharpen....where do you get your information from? It seems like your just making this stuff up.

[poneyboy23]

@JimzOnDroid You can't make a blanket statement like that. It's also dependent on proper heat treatment and other factors. 440C is one of the worst stainless steels in my experience, but there are some custom makers out there who can turn it into a great steel. That being said, I have a 145CM knife and it's good, but not great. I would put it as the "least" of stainless steels that are acceptable. Ironically, 12C27 holds a better edge...

[poneyboy23]

People swear by 12C27 for it's superb edge retention and yet it's kind of dissed here. What's up with that? Ronnie Rocker has two good points.

Where do you get this stuff?