Forging does not make steel any better ,that is just advertising hyperbole. It is the heat treating and steel itself that matters. Ed Fowler is one of the masters of 52100 and it is his heat treating process (multiple quenches) that make the difference. It is true that 52100 and 5160 are harder to deal with in big batches.
I am not sure about 52100 but 5160 is a oil hardening steel and most big companies much prefer air hardening steel. One of the reason the Spyderco Mule team knife is taking so long is Spyderco had some trouble working with the steel.

I agree with Vox ,S7 for big bowies and hard use knives. If S7 has poor edge retention though I would hate to see what qualifies as good. I have been reprofiling my
YKLE to 20 degrees and it is taking a LONG time even with a diamond sharpener.
I am really looking forward to a S7 SS4 to see how it does in a smaller thinner blade.

I love my new Swarden. It could be the ultimate Busse kin hunting knife.

If you want the best of everything thats INFI.