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CAMPING KNIVES- DOWNLOADABLE Reference Guide To Steels Used in Making Knives


 


The purpose of this article is to share what I now know after having purposed to answer a question that has rattled around in my head since I was a kid...


How are knives made?

I've always known a tad but never enough to be confident in it. I recently dug in pretty deep and now have a much better understanding--Just enough anyway to realize when someone at Bass Pro or on Amazon is selling snake oil. It really does come down to the steel which is what I'm going to share on in the post.


About knives and snake oil... It seems there would be regulation in place-- especially on Amazon-- for the price gouging that goes on for various products. That said, if you are a bit knifey down in your bones like me it literally pays to know your steel. So let's take a stab at it shall we. (pathetic pun intended).


Whether your interests are in bushcraft knives, camping knives, pocket knives or gladiator swords or any variation thereof you will definitely find this information to be interesting.



STICK AROUND AFTER THE ARTICLE:

In my research I think I may have found the perfect knife cost per quality.

I'll share it shortly.



There are VERY many types and variations of steel however those included here are the ones most commonly used for making knives. While these steel types are very distinct, and some are more costly than others, ranking these steels is not an exact science so much as it is a method of generally categorizing what the user can reasonably expect from the steel.


 

The most widely known knife steel types used in the variations to follow are:


Stainless Steel

Carbon steel with added chromium to resist the elements however is much softer than regular carbon steel. The most common of knife steels 154CM, AUS, CTS, MoV, 400 and more.


Carbon Steel

Low chromium content steel that is very durable yet is susceptible to corrosion. Best known example: 1095


Tool Steel

Hard steel alloys used in industrial tool making and cutting tools. Well known examples: CPM, 01, M4 etc.




 

UPPER PREMIUM




CPM S110V

RETAINS EDGE 10  | RESISTS CORROSION 6 | EASE OF SHARPENING 1

(EXPLANATION of above ranking: Second to none for holding an edge. Slightly above average in resisting corrosion. Very difficult to work with for knife makers and require master sharpening skills to resharpen.)


(EXAMPLE)


CPM S90V

RETAINS EDGE 9 |  RESISTS CORROSION 5 | EASE OF SHARPENING 1

Folding Blade: Benchmade - 940-1

Fixed Blade: Spyderco Proficient



M390

RETAINS EDGE 9 |  RESISTS CORROSION 7  |  EASE OF SHARPENING 2



ZDP-189

RETAINS EDGE 8  | RESISTS CORROSION 4  | EASE OF SHARPENING 1



ELMAX

RETAINS EDGE 8 |  RESISTS CORROSION 5 | EASE OF SHARPENING 3



CPM-20CV

RETAINS EDGE 9 |  RESISTS CORROSION 7 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 2



 



LOWER PREMIUM


CTS-XHP

RETAINS EDGE 8 |  RESISTS CORROSION 6 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 5



CPM M4

RETAINS EDGE 9 |  RESISTS CORROSION 2  | EASE OF SHARPENING 2



CPM S30V

RETAINS EDGE 7 |  RESISTS CORROSION 7 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 5



CPM S35VN

RETAINS EDGE 7 |  RESISTS CORROSION 7 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 5

Folding: Kizer Begleiter



 



GENERAL HIGH END



154CM

EDGE RETENTION 6 |  CORROSION RESISTANCE 6 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 5



ATS-34

EDGE RETENTION 6 |  CORROSION RESISTANCE 6 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 5

Comparable Alternative to ATS-34 Steel: Kizlyar Niolox Steel KK0034 Legion


D2

EDGE RETENTION 8 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 2 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 3


VG-10

EDGE RETENTION 6  | CORROSION RESISTANCE 7  | EASE OF SHARPENING 6


H1

EDGE RETENTION 2 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 9 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 8



N680

EDGE RETENTION 5 |  CORROSION RESISTANCE 8 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 6


 
 


UPPER MIDDLE



440C

EDGE RETENTION 4 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 4 | EASE OF SHARPENING 6



AUS-8

EDGE RETENTION 3 |  CORROSION RESISTANCE 4  | EASE OF SHARPENING 8

Fixed: SOG Kiku

Folding: Ontario Rat 1



CTS-BD1

EDGE RETENTION 4 |  CORROSION RESISTANCE 6  | EASE OF SHARPENING 6



8Cr13MoV

EDGE RETENTION 3 |  CORROSION RESISTANCE 3 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 8


14C28N

EDGE RETENTION 4 |  CORROSION RESISTANCE 6 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 6

Folding: Sanrenmu 1006


 


LOWER MIDDLE



440A

EDGE RETENTION 3 |  CORROSION RESISTANCE 5  | EASE OF SHARPENING 9

Folding: RUKO RUK0106



420HC

EDGE RETENTION 3 |  CORROSION RESISTANCE 8  | EASE OF SHARPENING 9

Folding: Kershaw Link



1095

EDGE RETENTION 3 | CORROSION RESISTANCE 2 | EASE OF SHARPENING 8


 


LOW END




420J

EDGE RETENTION 2 |  CORROSION RESISTANCE 8 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 9


AUS-6

EDGE RETENTION 3  | CORROSION RESISTANCE 5 |  EASE OF SHARPENING 9





 

I'VE FOUND THE PERFECT AFFORDABLE KNIFE...


First let me define KNIFE as I use the term in this contextual claim of 'perfect and affordable': I am a utilitarian adventurist. I don't need expensive, ultra-name brands to suit my needs. I just need something to suit my needs and my consistent message in that interest is that I refuse to chase the latest and greatest product that promises to fill the hole in my soul. Truth is... they made the hole. Marketing makes the hole. It's how commerce is best served in this day and age.


That said... I'm not foolish enough either to think or state that Benchmade or Spyderco's finest blade wouldn't be wonderful to have. I'm just saying that I don't NEED a knife of that level of prestige. What I need to suit my camping and adventure traveling activities is a good blade that does it's job that can be purchased at a fair price. I think I have found just the manufacturer who has stepped up to that plate...



ONTARIO KNIFE CO. operates out of Franklinville New York and has informally since 1889 and formally since 1905. The have a great story the I'll leave you to discover if you are interested.

Using higher end steel-- than their comparably priced competitors-- OKC crafts a broad range of quality blades for home and outdoor use. I am particularly found of their ESEE-esque models. I have whittled and buttoned firewood with an OKC blade. I have read the reviews and have shopped the competition. I am finally beginning to understand why this company gets so much positive press... they earned it.


If you are like me in your needs and interests for camping and adventure traveling these following knives are WELL worth looking into and the prices will blow you away...



THE OKC RANGER SERIES...


RD-6 |  R.A.K.  | RANGER FALCON | RANGER TFI (not shown)



 


THE OKC RAT SERIES...


TAK I |  RAT-5  | RAT-7 | RTAK II | RAT-3 & 3 SERRATED (not shown)




 

Without further ado here are my fixed & folding top picks...


FIXED large:

(NEARLY HALF THE COST OF COMPETITORS)

 


FIXED medium:

 


FIXED small:


 



FOLDING tactical:

(ASSISTED OPEN)

 


FOLDING EDC:

(ASSISTED OPEN)


IF YOU'D LIKE TO DOWNLOAD A MEDIA RICH VERSION OF THE MEAT OF THIS CAMPING KNIFE BLOG POST VISIT OUR DOWNLOADS PAGE.


 




Story Moto out!


 



JOIN THE FIGHT

LEARN WHAT STORY MOTO ADV IS ACTUALLY

UP TO... INSIDE SCOOP ON PATREON




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