Quote Originally Posted by Mike Blue View Post
Given the original post: my recommendation is to begin with O-1 and stick with it. Learn it, until you know it inside and out. It's general composition is so near the old mixture called silver steel (indeed, O1 drill rod is still called silver steel in Europe) that it overlaps some traditional ground. It does not require special tools or complicated processes. It's cheap. It's hard to see any value in racing off after all the other materials when something old fashioned and highly under-rated by the knife community can perform in a razor in all the desirable characteristics from shaving to honing.
I've only used 0-1 so far, but I'm thinking of trying 1095, after finishing the 0-1 razor I'm working on, just to see how I like it. I've heard a couple of people say that they didn't like honing 0-1. I'm OK with it, but I would like to experience working with 1095 at least once.