What is the best kind of stainless steel for a knife for outdoor use?

Knife Materials

A. Carbon steel

Merits

1. Usually lower priced than high quality stainless steel knives.

2. Easily sharpened

3. Remains sharp longer than stainless steel knives

Limitations

1. Rusts easily

2. Vulnerable to tarnish and discoloration

B. Stainless steel

Merits

1. Resistant to rust, tarnish and discoloration

Limitations

1. Usually more expensive than similar carbon steel knives

2. low priced stainless steel knives are difficult to sharpen and do not easily maintain a sharp edge

3. Poorly constructed stainless steel knives may be too thin and too flexible

>> hence pretty evident that carbon steels are the way to go, not stainless steel

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/foods/458-004/458-004.h...

ok, lets get customizing

build material has to be carbon steel

neatly hard chrome plated should take care of outdoors

(as also other speciality coatings)

peace !

>> also useful reading,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife#Materials_and_c...

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RE:

What is the best kind of stainless steel for a knife for outdoor use?

You might consider a good tool steel instead- unless you

need it to be stainless.

A knife of A2 or D2 steel will hold a good edge, sharpen nicely and last quite a while. If the blade is to sit around in the weather, a coating of oil will keep it protected.

they have 1098 stainless thats not too bad, carbon knives ARE better except they're usually coated to protect the blade but the coating also wears out with use. I use a Tom Brown Tracker made my Topps knives for all my outdoor needs. the best kind of stainless steel knife is one that stays sharp, won't break, won't rust, and does all you need it to do, when you find that knife E-mail me. otherwise passable knives go from the SOG seal to gerber, benchmade to buck. I think its more what you want it for than what its made of. Look into Topps knives, good, cheap, ugly.

Best Steel For Knives

It depends on your use. I prefer high carbon steel knives for most things .

Buck knives make a variety of stainless blades but I have found them hard to sharpen

Being outdoors doesn't mean you should take less care of it than you normally would....so your question is a bit superflous as asked.

If you mean "what kind of steel can I use outdoors and not bother taking care of at all?", try 420 J2. Most knives made from that are crap, but they'll stay shiny. That fits your qualifications quite nicely, I believe.

I love my SOG TigerShark but if you do not want to spend the money on a SOG, Buck makes a decent fixed blade fairly inexpensive.

gerber and Buck both do a useful stainless range. Either will do the job.

find a good solid hacksaw blade and shape it to the size you want it is excellent steel for knives and stays sharp