Very good video man. People would do well to at least listen to this and take the fact that the man talking in the video is one of the best knife makers hands down.

440 is a series of steels, 440 C is a specific recipe in the 440 series. It has chromium in it with about the same carbon content as 1095, that chromium forms carbides. As far as wear resistance is concerned it is far superior in comparison to 1095, but those chromium carbides are larger than the iron carbides that 1095 solely relies on making the edge less tough compared to 1095. This all assumes that these steels have an ideal heat treat that causes the carbides to form. The steels with the most carbon are the new super steels, popular non stainless "high carbon steels" have about 1.2 or below carbon percentage. A steel like ZDP 189 has 3 percent carbon. In fact it has so much carbon in it, the 20 percent chromium bonds to that carbon and forms so many carbides that it isn't even anywhere near stainless steel despite having 20 percent chromium. Use steels you prefer to use, carbon steel are incredibly tough and STRAIGHT carbon steels have unsurpassed edge fineness due to the super small grain structure and the super small iron carbides. Get a steel you like, just make sure you can sharpen it. Man has used iron for thousands of years, straight carbon steel is as close as it gets to iron without being soft. Carbon is cool, stainless is cool, tool and alloy steels are cool. Pick something cool and more importantly enjoy it.

Im obsessed with knives, i have watched countless hours of knife stuff and this video right here says everything so pefectly i love it, subscribed

This is one of the best talks I have heard about considerations when choosing a knife. There is that delicate balance between geometry, materials and interface (handle) which are all determined by the knifes intended purpose as well as the end user. Change any one of those and the whole equation changes. That's why the "what is the best knife...." Kind of questions are so difficult and subjective. Great job detailing the important elements.

As always William, your wisdom is invaluable. Thanks!

I always come away with some good information from your whittle talks. Thanks for the great videos you put out. All the best John

Every knife person should watch this video. It is hands down, the best advice I have saw on KZfaq. Keep up the great work and thanks!

Another great whittle talk William. Some sound advice here

Excellent advice! Ease of sharpening is so important when I'm in the field. If I can't get it tip top sharp with just a pocket stone and my leather belt, I ain't carrying it.

Me and my wife set on the front porch and whittle most evenings.

Good info in this vid. This vid just reinforced why I ordered a knife from you. I can tell you've put a lot of thought into the design and construction of your knives.

I totally agree with the tapered handle being more comfortable. I never understood why people don’t mention this more often, that your pinky is shorter and it would therefore make more sense for it to be able to wrap around something narrower. So many knives are narrow close to the blade and wide towards the pummel.

you're dead on with the balancing of edge retention and ease of sharpening......!! I'll take the high carbon steel every time. I'm not a "one cutting tool option" type of guy though....I sorta wish I was. I think I love knives too much is my biggest problem lol. To tell the truth, I like to take multiple cutting tofols with me when I'm out. A case CV trapper on my belt for skinning game (love the spey blade), a victorinox alox farmer in my pocket for general tasks, a mora 510 or classic for carving/general use, and one bigger sheath knife for heavier tasks. I also pack in a folding saw and a trail-hawk. So I'm really heavy on the cutting tools.....too heavy I guess....

Man. I love watching your. "Whittle Talk" videos. Be blessed my friend. John

Very informative video I agree with your thoughts. I've gone on the endless search for the best steel and then found myself back where I started off. Once I became proficient at sharpening, I prefer the high carbon Steels and the 440 series etc..

I'm a camper and hunter and find bushcrafters and survivalist have taken a cutting tool and made it impractical for true use to thick and scandi grind for everything I have multiple blades for many tasks thanks for bringing back the knife as a cutting tool

I believe it was Kephart who said that a good knife's steel should be soft enough to bend or roll and not chip or break. I agree. I should be able to hone my knife enough to have it workable quickly. If I have to sharpen (as opposed to just honing) my edge every time I need to get it right, that's too much work. 1095 and O1 are getting the job done for me quite well.

Great Points, I loved it!

I agree with you, Bill. I used to like thick, beefy “pry bar” knives but over the years I’ve found I like thinner, non-“super steel” blades that are easier to sharpen. My idea of sharpening is not to get a new knife or send it somewheres to have it done! However, sharpening takes practice and the better I got, the less I became interested in supersteels. Strange, huh? 😁

This is a great great video, thank you for talking about this and sharing your knowledge, very thankful. Keep it coming and great job!

You are very enjoyable to watch and hear. Great job brother.

I have a knife that cuts and cuts really well got it from great knife maker, you might have heard of him, lol. Jason

Excellent whittle talk William! I love your channel!

Great video William

A dark secret here, many many people buy/choose knives based on appearance. And many of them choose appearance that a real user never understand anything about it. Specially youngsters.

I use a lot of 1075 and it holds a great edge and is tough as nails.

now this i agree totally on!! see so many people buy so expensive machetes i would cringe to swing it at anything else than air.. cheap steel like old truck springs etc are superb for machetes look what they use in the jungle and such

Ditto Brandon below and thanks you for your excellent explanations on knives and the different grinds. You are very good at it and it makes it easier to remember and understand . About anyone who has had a extended stay in the bush,can relate to your explanations . Mine was in Vietnam and we never went in like other outfits(67-68 1st Cav. 1/8th jumping Mustangs) Yes I took a 6" stone to Nam :-)

Best channel on KZfaq William.

Well spoken, thoughtful, and cool hat!

Excellent

Either side of Perfection is Too tough, Being soft. and Too Hard. Fragile as a shard of glass. A Japanese Tanto or To sword. Full flat Convex edge. like a carving knife edge.

Say Heah William, After a few 24's, I agree if the edge is thin enough that you can sharpen it to cut, That's where I'm at, I have a couple of knives, that I kind of know what I want. Yeah, I have a few that are 5/16" thick that cut. But if you get it razor thin and try batoning instead of using the proper tool, You will be disappointed, and complain about the knife and steel, The best knife that you have with you at the time, is the best knife. Because I generally select for what I think I'll be doing. That's why usually I like to multi carry, One of my Fav. is my Piggybacked Rodent 7 and my Rodent 3. I can use my Maxpedition Kodiak Gearsling and on the side I can slide my G. B. Small Forex Axe with no problem and still carry my piggyback. As far as handles, I don't like sausage style handles, because if round had good control, Hockey Sticks would be round. ,, .

Size wise, the best knife is the one you have with you. If you can't or won't or don't carry it you shouldn't consider it as useful.

Very good video. Thanks for sharing your expertise on knives. Your thoughts on survival are different than mine. Yes its life or death, but there is a lot of space between the two. I call it the "suck factor". Anytime your life starts to suck a little, your in survival mode. Most people can handle a little suck. They get things fixed or find a way to improve their life so it don't suck. But on the other end of the scale, when the suck gets so bad that you cant handle it, like having to do with out water, food, shelter, or warmth, it really sucks. The ultimate suck is death. Learning how to deal with the such thru knowledge, and the right mental attitude can help you keep the suck at a manageable level. When you have everything you need, there really isn't any suck. There may be things you want, but there's a difference between wants and needs. So really survival is all about needs. You can either get your needs from others, or provide your own needs. Being self reliant is the only real way to do it, because you can count on you.

just saw this video.not sure how i missed this one lol. good advice on qualifying a good knife without putting like 100 different restrictions on it lol

I made knives back in the 70's and 80's, (Grizzly Custom Knives) Ontario, Canada, and the best knife I ever made was made from an old Power Hacksaw blade. Held and edge, easy to sharpen, and lasted a while. Couldn't buy one better than that.

Finally someone who has grasped a knife characteristics and uses, and I agree with you 100% on carbon steel, I have a very expensive knife with a steel so hard you rot just by the thought of sharpening it. Then these knives that look like they come from outer space hmmm, perhaps I am conservative but I want my sharp, straightforward and not too heavy, Continue with your Gospel, Thanks

Thanks for this good advise. I have a Sleipner steel flat grind knife that I find easy to sharpen but retains an edge well. The middle way?

great advices William.

I am always surprised by how many people say they like something, but hate to do the maintenance. If you have knives and especially if you use your knives, you are going to have to sharpen them. If you like to shoot guns, you have to clean them. I always found the use of the tool exciting, but the maintenance calming. I put on some good music and can sit and sharpen my knives for a couple of hours easy. Maybe it is the rhythm. How about you William? Or do you just like to sit and whittle?

Another excellent video my friend,im not into super steels.Im a hunter and I carry a Scandinavian Mora companion in my game bag and a Buck light knife on my belt for field dressing Deer and other game.I have a collection of Scandi knives eg.Helle Mora, Martini and a few Buck,Gerber knives in my gun room,i use an odd one on occasion when I'm making Stalking sticks.I,m thinking of getting the Tops Bob knife any advice.Stay safe William.

Is there a difference in 440 stainless and the 440c stainless you mention? Reason I'm asking is I have two knives that say 440 stainless on them one is a case fixed blade with a 10 inch blade on it and the other knife says 440 stainless on one side and on the other says AVRSS-WM can you give me an idea on what that means? Also, I have used a wooden baton on them before and I noticed when I was doing it I had some dents on the spine of the knife so I've quit doing it. Is that normal with a stainless steel?

to me he best knife is a sharp knife, and easy to keep sharp. openal sharp easy and get very sharp. trouble is i think they brittle in colder weather.

Yes!

Any Modern Folding knives you suggest for whittling? Like a small EDC type knife that folds modernly?

Has anybody some expierence with marple ideal hunting knife with its thick convex edge or similar knives? I've played around with them many times and found them pretty much useless. Never understood why they were made this way!

Liking the new intro.

One might say the best knife is the one you have with you and cuts what you need it to.

I want that hat.

Good informative video

you ‘re the best, mr Williams.I’m from the old times, never had a tv, and wittling takes the place of those “wonder drugs”… an hour of playing with a stick and rhen stropping, perhaps a bit of rubbing of Obenhaufs in the sheaths does wonders for those bad moments you have or the stress from work…Thanks mr William, stay safe.PS: I usually do not get cut myself often wirh my blades… But I seem to have been cursed on regards to sheets of paper, paper bags, cardboard boxes…There are a couple of shops in my town that have alternative methods of bags because they already know me and they do not want injured, bleeding people in their shops… well, I think I’ll have to live with it!

Good stuff. Thanks

can you do a vid on what you get by getting a custom knife comparing to a mas product knife and how do you pick a steel 1095 or o1

What is your opinion of 5160 Steel for pocket knives?

Performance and Function Brother! Then you got to make it look good! Lets see how many knives we can make, before Christ yanks us out of here! I use to sharpen my blades first, before finishing the handles. Backards....and I still have all my fingers! I sharpened a Titanium knife, once, for a long time, on a wet stone, before I realized what Titanium is! LOL! Peace and God Bless! Hawk.

Have you used 4140 sawblade steel? What do you think about 4140?

I respect ur knife skills a lot an plan on ordering the woodsman an woodsman jr .. I've never said anything bad about your knives if u don't want my biz let me know?

Hi enjoy your video, you sure know a lot about knifes and can tell your are very smart not only book wise but knowledge "hands on"...I work with knifes a lot all my life and though I know a lot, but I been trying to buy a knife for a kind of all around knife and can not find one...but you said a knife is to cut, we the people try to put a knife up to a ax and big knife and do the job of a little knife and it just will not work, close maybe but not perfect...I looking for a knife to cut meat and to skin, and I am finding a small knife with 2-4 inch blade is best...am I right? I cut beef, I killed a bull and had about 20 knifes big knifes, knifes that cost a lot of money, but some of the best to skin bull and cut beff only cost $20.00 and did very good job... could yougive a name of knife that would work good for this? thank you Robert...I used Morakniv knife work good but edge did not last long had to resharpen during cutting bull up... use 2 of these mora knifes...

Great video. What knife do you have with you in this video.

How much is that knife worth to duplicate that exact one in the video that belly is gorgeous

thank you

ok thanks

Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyep.

do ever sell knives

Hours to sharpen crucible steels? Come on man, you have to be realistic if you want people to take you seriously. I don't doubt your experience but you can't exaggerate this much because of your biased opinion. I can take any knife made of any super steel (crucible steel) and go from a damaged dull edge to hair shaving sharp in 15 minutes max with wet stones and a leather strop.

Best knife is the one u have

There is no best knife