Thread: Preferred Steel

I've just watched video of a "razor expert" who claimed that stainless steel was better than carbon steel. That claim is new to me. I've always known the opposite to be true when in comes to knives. But does that imply to razors? Are stainless steel razors superior to carbon steel razors? I know that there will be variations among manufacturers, but in general, isn't carbon steel harder and holds an edge better?


The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Stainless-vs.-High-Carbon-Steel-Knife-Blades

Technically, stainless steel seems to be harder than carbon steel, thus, honing a stainless will be harder.. This debate has been going on for ages, so, there seems to be no clear winner. Its just like the 'you need to let your razor rest for 24 hours before using it again' circular.. VS the 'WHO SAID THAT? PROVE IT' camp... The debate rages on. My personal opinion is use whatever is most comfortable to you and your conscience

Garlo60

Some Staines steel razors are extremely hard to hone... I have one..
I believe they hold an edge longer if memory serves me...
I'd think that carbon steel is better, others wise we would all be using SS ?

Actually stainless steel is not harder than carbon steel it's just more abrasive resistant and less prone to rust.

Stainless steel is better than regular carbon steel in at least one important aspect. Stainless rusts at a very much slower rate. I hone and shave with razors made from both types of steel and can't complain about the shave from either. For me the argument as to which is better is a tempest in a tea pot. In everyday use either works just fine. Knife makers and aficionados seem to obsess over what types of steel make the best blades. OTH razor users don't seem to be as afflicted by that syndrome. Now, brushes and soaps on the other hand are a different story for shavers.

Bob

BobH,

I don't obsess over knives or steel. I own a few knives that are used for big game hunting. I do have a Spyderco Police knife that's gotta be 20 years old. It's still in the same box.

Bob, when you need a knife, like when in you're in a Rocky Mountain wilderness, miles from camp and tens of miles from the nearest town, one will pay attention to quality and a knife's ability to retain an edge.

Scientifically, carbon steel is harder and will retain an edge longer than stainless steel.

Originally Posted by TreeBrand

BobH,

I don't obsess over knives or steel. I own a few knives that are used for big game hunting. I do have a Spyderco Police knife that's gotta be 20 years old. It's still in the same box.

Bob, when you need a knife, like when in you're in a Rocky Mountain wilderness, miles from camp and tens of miles from the nearest town, one will pay attention to quality and a knife's ability to retain an edge.

Scientifically, carbon steel is harder and will retain an edge longer than stainless steel.

Interesting, I never said "you" obsessed over knives or steel just that it seems like the dedicated knife crowd seem to do from my pov. It seems custom knife makers cater to that and the need for some to have a unique knife. I have never seen an aboriginal person who was living in an isolated area using highly specialized knives or guns. They all seem to using fairly ordinary off the shelf gear or home made gear.

As far as "Scientifically, carbon steel is harder and will retain an edge longer than stainless steel" goes. That may very well be true. In my own experience using both carbon steel and stainless steel razors for shaving with on a daily basis it makes a tinkers damn worth of difference other than the fact that stainless is far less likely to rust as quickly as carbon steel will.

Bob

I feel that there are hundreds of different types of steels out there and defining them by stainless and carbon is pointless. And to add to it a proper heat treat and temper makes all the different in the world.

I personally can't see how any knife steel couldn't make a good razor so until the razor makers start playing with some of the more exotic steels we'll never have a glimpse of what the best razor steels are out there.

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I think my only point about the steels commonly used in straight razor making today is that they are certainly more than good enough as it is now. I doubt very much if using exotic steels is going to make a huge difference in the shave so the effort and expense expended to do that may not justify the effort. The steel only needs to be so good to give a good shave, after that it is gilding the lily type of thing. That is simply from a price to performance ratio pov and after all these years I think we are at the point of rapidly diminishing return on money spent.

OTH, if a user wants an 'exotic" steel why not. If nothing else there is a certain cache to using a unique tool just as there is to using a tool that is aesthetically pleasing to the user beyond a shape and materials that simply get the job do proficiently.

Bob

Sharp is sharp, no matter what the blade composition. However, durability is a different story. I have a Zero Tolerance knife with CTS-204p and a BenchMade with CPM-M4, and their edge-holding ability is astounding. They will eat a high carbon blade for breakfast and never even burp.