Neck/Small Utility Knife - Which Steel To Use?

[murphda2]

I'm working on a small neck/utility knife design and trying to decide which steel to use. My intent is to make these for fellow soldiers and feel that a s.s. would be best suited for the application, but would like to keep the cost as low as possible. I currently have 1095 and some 1084 but have access to O-1.

What do you guys think?

 

[Stew]

Hi Murph,

While I agree that stainless would be a great choice, I think that O1 would also be perfectly acceptable.

I have an O1 knife that gets used a lot but there is no evidence of rust and it's edge holding is superb. The knife was given a heavy etch with vinegar to build up the patina before the edge was polished.

I think it's very easy to over complicate things but if the basics work...

 

[seved]

I think O1 should be nice. One of my huntingknives is in O1 and i like it very much.

Seved