Thread: Favourite steel?

Tamagahane for me. All I have used for the last 4 months.

Other steel would be 02 Tool Steel

Originally Posted by petercp4e

I'm with you Mark...
If I had to pick just one, Sheffield gets the nod...hands down.
There's just something special about it.

Pete <:-}

Yep, it will always have a place in my heart. As you say, Pete. There's just some thing special about it.

You guys are forcing me to buy a Tamagahane Iwasaki ...Please stop

I think several years ago I asked the question, on this site: if you were blindfolded and an assortment of blades made of all different steel types and subtypes were put before you, could you tell the difference while shaving or being shaved by someone else?

Personally I couldn't care less what the material is. It's the shave that matters.

I've tried 'em, all -- own(ed) 'em, all -- and it's Sheffield steel... with nary a doubt.

I think the best steel I ever got was an NOS Henckels 14 in carbon steel for $60.

I’m also a big fan of 19th century Sheffield steel. But lately I’ve really been getting into my American blades, too. Really hard steel, but there’s something really interesting about it.

Originally Posted by evnpar

I'm also a Tamahagane fan, as my Japanese Tamahagane razors consistently give me the best shaves. A close runner up would be Swedish steel. I know that I'm in the minority, but I've never cared for Sheffield steel for some reason. The harder steels just seem to give me the type of edge that I prefer.

Originally Posted by rolodave

Tamagahane for me. All I have used for the last 4 months.

Other steel would be 02 Tool Steel

I feel Tamahagane epitomizes steel. Historically and culturally significant, the production of making Tamahagane captivates me, its a process between man and nature that has a spiritual connection and that almost defines a country.

never paid any attention, or doubt that i could tell. there are some razors that i haven't been able to get a shaveable edge on (a kamisori and a fili) so there are steels that i know i don't like.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I think several years ago I asked the question, on this site: if you were blindfolded and an assortment of blades made of all different steel types and subtypes were put before you, could you tell the difference while shaving or being shaved by someone else?

Damn right I could. Not every subtype, but I clearly can make the difference between most "big types". Each steel has a different feel.

Back to the topic, my favorite is one not talked about yet in this thread : vintage French Haute Marne high grade steel, like you would find on a Ch Guerre or a Malaingre. The closest thing is the Sheffield silver, but the high grade Haute Marne has that je ne sais quoi which can produce some extraordinary razors. Hence I also love Sheffield silver. And also am very fond of Tamahagane and Swedish steel.

I hate a lot of late French steels, like everything Thiers Issard produces (strangely, even the "Loup et Belier" which is apparently made with SS, go figure), Le Grelot or Pradat Brun.