stainless steels

[Guindesigns]

I'm looking to get into a different stainless than my normal cpm154. I've had enough of the sandy grit I seem to find when getting my egde thinned out. What is a good alternative?

 

[Boatbuilder]

I also wanted to get away from CPM-154. I got some RWL34 and just in process of using it now. Only a couple folder blades and 1 larger knife started. Grinds and drills real nice. About all I can say for now but from what others tell me its a great steel.

 

[Smallshop]

John Wilson has built hunters out of AEB-L and they hold up well. Super fine grain.

 

[John Wilson]

AEBL all day, every day. I make everything out of it.

 

[mike miller]

RWL is nice but the cost is high. AEB-L is less than half the cost.

 

[chrisstaniar]

A third on AEBL. I've made quite a few blades - kitchen and hunters out of it and no complaints

 

[Randy Lucius]

Hard to go wrong with ABE-L. I’ve used CPM-154 and like it too. I’m making a skinner out of Nitro-V from NJ Steel Baron. So far it’s working out fine.

 

[Gliden07]

Another vote for AEB-L

 

[Sean Jones]

So far the only stainless I've used is AEB-L. But I find it easy to work, and it turns out a very nice knife.
Plus it suits my budget. Inexpensive compared to some other stainless steels

 

[KenH]

While my preference is actually 14C28N but since it's so hard to get I use AEB-L which is very similar. I have long felt AEB-L offered the best "bang for buck" of any of the steels, and the article by Larrin confirmed this: https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/03/04/all-about-aeb-l/

 

[chrisstaniar]

I'd almost forgotten about Nitro-V. It's another good alternative if AEBL isn't available. Good steel and not a high cost steel

 

[Kev]

AEB-L is a great steel. I’ve found it works well for smallish knives up to 4-5” blade length. It holds a very nice edge and is easily sharpened to more than serviceable levels. I can’t say definitively that cryo makes a huge difference but I do it anyway.

 

[Alden Cole]

Anyone have experience with AEB-L in a larger knife, such as a camp knife? The charts show that it has high toughness, if I remember right, but was wondering what people's experiences with it were.