I think that I understand this interest in the various steels but have no understanding of the metallurgy. It’s something that has never crossed my mind before reading this thread. I do vaguely remember being told in the 70’s that a Puma knife was so hard it was unusable.
If my knife does what I ask of it that’s enough for me. It’s the task that matters.
Thinking back over this summer outdoors:- I’ve cut guyline, prepped and eaten food and shaved wood flakes for post-tinder. I’ve scraped a ferrocerium and a couple of fox pelts (both with the back edge) and done the odd bit of whittling. All with an Opinel. You can tell me what steel they use. I dunno.
The ones I kept were fully usable. Just had to sharpen them before each use.
I think that is what people had to do before the invention of modern steel production.
This.^^^^^^^.
Couple of swipes with a carborundum puck and carry on.
Genuine intrigue - do some of you folk select from or carry a range of different steel knives for the tasks you anticipate on a trip?
Now- I accept that I am talking about using knives.
You guys who forge knives are a different matter altogether. That’s magic and alchemy.
However I don’t know how to make bricks or what my house is actually made of. They’ve done their job for a hundred years and thus far, I’m happy.
This is an interesting thread, I shall look back and continue to read it. As I said, I’m intrigued but it’s not my world.