stainless or carbon steel?

[leon-b]

hi everyone i am new to bushcraft and am thinking of buying a frosts mora clipper , it seems a very good knife but i am not sure what steel to get
please could anyone tell me the pro's and con's of each steel
thanks leon

 

[anthonyyy]

I have a clipper in stainless and a "training" knife (I think thats what they are caled) in carbon.
I got the stainless one for use in a salt water environment. I find that it it is just as good as the carbon for my purposes.

 

[leon-b]

i have heard that you can use the carbon with firesteel is this true
i have also heard that the stainless gives out hardly any sparks is this true
thanks leon

 

[Nemisis]

No Leon both will give good sparks but the backs of both are left a little unfinished you'll need to file them flat its a good squared corner to the back that cuts into the fire steel to create the sparks.
Dave

 

[leon-b]

i am leaning towards the carbon but i would like a couple of peoples opinions what one would you recommend

 

[Nemisis]

You can get both for around the £20 mark
Dave

 

[leon-b]

yes i know but if you had to buy just one what would you buy????

 

[Nemisis]

Stainless for me as I use it for foor prep easy to clean with boiling water.
Dave.

 

[leon-b]

thanks for your opinion it has helped me alot
so the stainless is more corrosion resistant
but what advantage if any does the carbon have over the stainless

 

[anthonyyy]

The carbon knife "feels" more bushcrafty. Use if a couple of times to slice tomatoes and it stains nicely.
Sounds stupid but if you have used both you know what I mean.

 

[leon-1]

Leon, you have asked a few questions about this, now I would like to ask a couple.

Firstly who will be making the purchase?

Secondly, do your parents know about your wish for a knife and have they agreed to you buying one?

I have to ask this as I believe that you are not old enough to purchase a knife over the counter without an adult.

Your questions are very adult asking about types off steel and thier qualities what made you ask them?

Why have you picked the Frosts Mora?

 

[Mantic]

I'd got for the stainless - it's by far the easiest option if you haven't much experience (yet). Plus, it's easier to get a reasonable stainless steel knife at the lower end of the market than a carbon blade.

Your question has so many answers simply because there are so many different types of steel - 440 A, B, C, V, ATS-34, blah blah blah . Fortunately, if you're paying less than 50 quid, your options dwindle, giving fewer choices.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good, cheap blades to be had. I've owned knives which cost more than £200 but at the moment I'm using a knife which cost less than 30 quid and I'm more than happy with it.

Once your collection and experience grows, you can get a carbon steel knife - Anthonyyy's comment, whilst sounding obscure, makes a lot of sense

 

[leon-b]

hi leon-1 my mum will be making the purchuse as i am only 14 my parents know that i want a knife and they think its fine
what made me ask the question was there are two types of steel on the frosts mora and i wanted to know which one was the best to buy
alot of people have recommended the frosts mora as a great beginers knife and as i am a beginer i thought it would suit me

 

[leon-b]

hi mantic what exactly do you mean by stainless is by far the easiest option?

 

[BorderReiver]

If you are willing to look after the blade,i.e.clean and dry it after use,then go for the carbon steel.It is easier to touch up the edge in the field.

If however you will be in a wet or salty evironment,it might be best to opt for the stainless.

As has been said,try to get hold of both and make up your own mind.

 

[leon-1]

hi mantic what exactly do you mean by stainless is by far the easiest option?

Right Leon, thanks for answering my questions.

The types of steel, stainless and carbon. When mantic refers the stainless as being the easiest option he is talking about maintaining the knife, Stainless does not require so much care as it is less prone to rust (that doesn't mena that it will not rust however, just that it is more resistant to it).

Some stainless steels can be quite difficult to sharpen though and the Carbon steels are a little better in this department.

A lot of the time it is a trade of between a couple of things high maintenance and how easy it is to sharpen and low maintenance and difficulty in sharpening.

In the long term the Stainless will require less care than the Carbon knife, but will be slightly more difficult to sharpen, but due to the blade being quite slim it will take a very good edge in both stainless and carbon as the bevels are quite steep.

 

[leon-b]

everyone is giving me loads of info and i am realy gratefull for this
who thinks i should get the stainless steel frosts mora clipper and who thinks i should get the carbon steel frosts mora clipper
many thanks leon

 

[Mantic]

Thanks Martyn for clarifying my suggestion - I should have done it in the first place.

Leon - I'd go stainless.

 

[leon-b]

i am also now leaning towards the stainless clipper due to the corrosion ressistance as i might also use it for fishing

 

[Marts]

Carbon. It will teach you to look after your knife properly. Stainless is for lazy boys (and mermaids)