Quote Originally Posted by Leighton View Post
Gotcha. What makes steel different are the percentages of certain elements. Ie, Silver steel generally has more carbon than "regular" steel. Stainless has chromium and nickel and other elements "carbon steel" doesn't have. Different types of stainless steel can have differing amounts of carbon %. The carbon % is what gives the steel its brittleness and hardness. Its a tradeoff. More carbon = harder steel, but more brittle. Usually the difference is really small, so in reality, the difference in steel is actually smaller than most people think.

So theoretically, the higher carbon %, the longer the edge will last. In theory. How much longer? Probably not that much because carbon percent is measured in fractions of percent.

So what really matter? The heat treatment matters. Its also the hardest thing to get right when making sharp pointies.
If Mike Blue happens along in this thread he can really speak to the nuances of metallurgy and heat treating. Other members as well but I know Mike is expert in that area.