This is such a great topic!
I got a question for the experts. When does knife steel construcion enter the decision on purchase?
Is AUS8 a min and VG-10 the gold standard? Would you sacrifice blade quality for benificial features?
I know that heat treatment can play a bigger part in blade quality, however as a customer you cannot possibly know who heat treats their steel the best. For that matter, does it cost more to properly heat treat a blade or is it the raw material that drives cost?
In my opinion, when it comes to personal defense knives, steel “quality” isn’t as significant as blade design, edge geometry, and corrosion resistance.
I view a personal defense knife as a dedicated tool and don’t use mine for daily chores. As Murphy would have it, I would have to defend myself immediately after dulling and gunking up my knife on some demanding chore. To avoid that, I use a different knife for utility purposes.
By keeping your defensive knife “pristine,” you know that it will be at peak performance if you need it. You also know that in the frantic few seconds that you might have to use it, your attacker will not be able to tell the difference between AUS8 and 154CM. Proper edge geometry and blade shape are much more important. Since your knife will be carried close o your body and carried constantly, corrosion resistance is also important.
From a utility perspective—especially if you do a lot of repetitive cutting of the same materials (i.e. cardboard)—you can quantify the performance of different steels, provided all other aspects of the blade design remain constant. Some people who test knives like to take this to extremes, cutting rope until the edge is dulled. If that’s your thing, enjoy. I don’t seem to have that much free time.
Steel choice is also more important for “survival” knives, since the knife may have to perform for an extended period of hard use before it can be sharpened. However, some users actually prefer less exotic steels for this purpose because they can be sharpened more easily using improvised means.
As with most knife-related things, personal preference and your own individual skill level play an important role in your choice. As long as your choice is well reasoned, reliable, and works consistently with your skill set, it works.
I hope this helps.
Stay safe,
Mike