TOP 5 Mid-Range Blade Steels

Mid-Range steels are usually the go to when look for reliable and a good price. Do you agree with this list? Let us know below. All links to knives and steels below.
Knives:
MKM VINCENT SMKW EXCLUSIVE NATURAL G-10: bit.ly/SMKWVINCENTG10
B'YOND EDC NIGHTHORSE NAVAJA FOLDING KNIFE GREEN G-10 SMKW EXCLUSIVE: bit.ly/BYONDEDCNIGHTHORSE
CRKT MINIMALIST: bit.ly/SMKWMINIMALIST
FINCH KNIVES: bit.ly/SMKWFINCH
CASE SMOKY VALLEY SUNSET AUTUMN BONE LARGE STOCKMAN FOLDING KNIFE: bit.ly/SMKWCASESUNSET
Steels:
N690: bit.ly/SMKWN690
14C28N: bit.ly/SMKW14C28N
D2: bit.ly/D2SMKW
154CM: bit.ly/SMKW154CM
1095: bit.ly/SMKW1095
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[@ghostmaloneedc4254]

1095 is one of my favorite steels on this list and my favorite Bushcraft steel. A little TLC goes along way when taking care of it. Excellent list. 154CM used to be the go to for Benchmade like you mentioned. Great list guys!

[@SMKWcom]

No matter what steel your tool is made of be sure to oil them and keep them away from moisture.

[@jonathansanders9816]

Its funny how apprehensive TC is doing this video 😄. This may be the first "controversial" video I have seen from you guys. Although, it is not controversial. But it is cool because it isn't full on marketing. Thanks for that!

[@SMKWcom]

Anytime you bring opinions to a video it can be "controversial"

[@Scablands_Scavenger]

I am not too picky with steels, as long as they work well in the knife for the job. I think you nailed it with the top 3, D2 worked well for me but did stain a bit with blood and a little tedious to sharpen in the field. I have a TOPS Pasayten light Traveler in 154CM that does very well. Hard to argue with 1095, just a good workhorse for modest pricing.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@timb4425]

Great list TC. My top 3 budget steels would have to be 14C28N, 154CM, and N690.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching and good list!

[@chadlooking35]

1095 is and has been one of my favorite steels since i was a teenager and D2 has become one of my favorites...I have only made a few knives,the ones i have made, i do it just for myself. I also appreciate a great knife that makes you want to own it.,and it starts with the steel.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@zbaird3]

One of the most important things w/ steel is the Heat Treatment. The best steel can be the worst without the proper Treat.. Thx TC

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelpitts3285]

154cm is also one of upgrades that leatherman use on several of their knives / multi tools.

[@SMKWcom]

🙌🙌🙌

[@mikecurtis2585]

Love 1095 has always been one of my favorites! Those are all great steels!

[@SMKWcom]

We love 1095!

[@nathanwhite5602]

Good job on the video

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@formironlye5655]

Miss your arts chelsea! Send hugs and love ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@SMKWcom]

Chelsea makes awesome artwork!

[@mikereese15]

Its a great list TC. Because its your list and your opinion so there.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching and understanding Mike!

[@staceyroberts9177]

Just started watching this but Buck Heat Treated 420 HC BETTER BE ON THE LIST. Now that I have watched the full video. I totally agree with 1095 and D2. I don’t know much about the others so can’t comment and have no experience with them. I have heard good things about O1 but it is only hearsay.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching! Buck has an awesome heat treat, but when you're doing a "5" video, not everything will make it, but be assured many of us have a long history with Buck.

[@Monsoonpain]

I'm shocked I hadn't subscribed sooner..Simple oversight in sure. Anyway, 14C28N is growing in popularity, and I myself have gotten great service with it. I have a limited edition Kershaw "Groove"/ RJ Martin design , from years back..the Sandvik blade has seen limited use, but performance is almost as good as any "premium " steel I own

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@whammofammo7346]

Another great list TC. I dislike D2 because of the time required to put a great edge on it, its almost as difficult as S90 imo. 154CM is one of my all time favorites for folders and 1095 is wonderful for fixed blades.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching WH!

[@LonestarTaoboy]

14C28N gets a lot of love, but interestingly the "Edge Retention Brigade" do not complain about it. Probably because it has superb toughness so you can lay that edge back for chart busting edge retention, also superb corrosion resistance. Let us not forget the great price. N690, 154CM, D2, and VG10, are all in approximately the same edge retention category (not to far from CPM S35VN), with good prices. The statement that D2 is tough is also not accurate, it is well below average in it's toughness. I am compelled to point out according to Dr. Larrin Thomas from Knife Steel Nerds, that CPM 20CV, CTS 204P, and M390 are all analogs. So much so that the differences in performance are negligible. HRC, toughness, corrosion resistance, edge stability, and edge retention, virtually identical. Yet people will easily claim 9cr18mov and 440C are analogs (which they are not). Addtionally, VG10 and 10cr15comov are analogs in the same way as the 20CV/204P/M390. I have heard the arguments about the difference between 154CM and CPM 154, yet they do not perform the same.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! We love Knife Steel Nerds and use their information very often

[@joekasperek1086]

Love it TC

[@SMKWcom]

🙌🙌🙌

[@nitrorc4life1]

I like m390 and 20cv, they ARE the same, it's like a apple pie recipe from two different chef's, with minor tweaks but both delicious

[@SMKWcom]

Very good comparison 👍

[@gocraiger]

Nailed my top 5. Perfect list. 154cm in folders is my number one. Kizer seems to do a great job with theirs. It loves the worksharp field sharpener too. Very under valued steel IMO. Just my mileage.

[@SMKWcom]

🙌🙌🙌

[@williamdabill]

I love my Finch Buffalo Tooth

[@SMKWcom]

💯

[@isthebeeflol]

Do a video on aus10a Aichi

[@SMKWcom]

We will have more Blade Steel series coming soon, thanks for the suggestion!

[@llamawizard]

Can you do sleipner steel and that steel Wicked Edge uses next?

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching and for the suggestion

[@franka9760]

Okay, I've watched all 3 of your "Top 5" blade steel videos. Where would you put K390?

[@thomasrobarts2399]

No carpenter cts bd1n? I've found it with the edge geometry set at 17° to actually outperform 14c28n. With proper heat treatment of course!

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching and for the suggestions for future steels to look at

[@hdrider2071]

You made great choices ...except ! Just kiddin they were solid choices

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching HD!

[@hichamtata4774]

Hello mon ami américain 🇺🇸🫡 vidéo intéressante comme d'habitude avec une jolie petite palette d acier ou chacun y verra sont préféré et trouveras sont bonheur SMKW 💯 TC 💯

[@SMKWcom]

Trop souvent, nous trouvons une ou plusieurs choses et restons avec elles pour toujours, nous voulions donc présenter aux gens certaines choses qu'ils ont peut-être oubliées ou manquées.

[@davidbaize4825]

Hey TC, Dave here, I was wondering where CPM-S30, CPM-S35 falls, in regards to category? Now make sure you get your best buddy, Greg, an awesome chair for the new studio!!! See y’all in April!!!

[@patrickmunneke8348]

Those are high end steels. Super steels like Magnacut and the like.

[@dano727]

I'm surprised S30V didn't make any of your lists...

[@SMKWcom]

That is the problem when you limit a list to only 5, something has to not make the list

[@NoGoodVeryBadAmerican]

I never post 2 comments on one video but does everyone who likes 1095 have a modified Old Hickory...cause I do 2..... actually 2 that I couldn't imagine a spring, summer, or fall without

[@SMKWcom]

Many of us have fond memories of Old Hickory

[@Monsoonpain]

Holy crap!!! Did you leave out Buck 420 HC??? Its certainly not "lower tier", and its no premium (although in my heart it is though). What's the deal?

[@SMKWcom]

The problem with making 5 lists are somethings are left off but rest assured we love Buck 👍

[@MountainMenMilitia]

I'm seriously shocked no one has mentioned 80crv2. This steel has had fantastic success with knives such as the terava pukko and their complete line of knives along with their world famous skrama. If I were to continue I could also throw several of the winkler knives in there. I would most likely put this steel over 1095 3 days out of the week. Great video TC.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@JohnSmith-gs4lw]

No argument with your choices. Respectfully, though: please turn off the interstitial ads when you post these longer videos to YT. I can’t imagine the $4 you get every month from YT ad revenue is keeping SMKW in the black. I assume they still force you to bump-in with ads, but to have an ad every two minutes in a video like this is kind of tough.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching and the suggestions

[@NoGoodVeryBadAmerican]

I was gonna unsub if 1095 wasn't #1 ..jk you know i couldn't do that to you smkw

[@jonathansanders9816]

I thought Aus 6 was the best?!?! Next to 420j. 😆 🤣

[@NoGoodVeryBadAmerican]

@@jonathansanders9816 aus 6 is the #1 tackle box steel

[@SMKWcom]

Never over look a good fishing knife!

[@jonathansanders9816]

@BIG Swifty Ever dog has its day! I imagine everything is good for something, right!

[@chrisreuther4546]

I was thinking D2 had become more of a budget steel these days

[@SMKWcom]

As newer and different super steels are made the ones that are top-tier today may slide down the list in years to come

[@llamawizard]

1095 is hot garbage compared to 14C28N, AEB-L.