OK...ok....

Someone posted a question - "best survival blade?"

My question's more basic - "best STEEL for a survival blade...?"

Better yet - what's the best steel in your opinion, for each of 2 survival blades...

1) for wilderness survival 6.5" to 10"

2) for "urban jungle" survival 4.5" - 6"

INFI ?
101 ?
A-2 ?
D-2 ?
S-7 ?
5160
VG-10 ?
CPM10V ?
Starrett 496-01 ?

lots of practicla application questions - but edge retention, toughness and durability, corrosion resistance...are all musts....

Suggestions?? Opinions???

Why not...INFI.

INFI for both.

You know, in case I needed to pry or cut other steels in the urban survival.

AND I would want my BM with me in the woods.

I don't even think I own anything with INFI anymore...but I still chose it.

But, if I was going to take what I do have it would be SR101 and 3V.

I'll go with INFI as well, even though I generally wonder if it's worth the additional cost. SR-101 would be a fine choice as well, but INFI has the extra corrosion resistance, which would be nice in a "true" survival situation where I would be out for who-knows-how-long without access to nice oils or high tech tuf-cloths to keep my blades protected.

For the types of use I actually expect to REALLY occur sometime during my life, SR-101, SR-77, INFI, Carbon V, etc etc etc are all fine.

I might practice a bit of survival skills, but it's purely as a hobby, and I have absolutely zero expectation of ever actually needing any of them. If I expect to need to make fire, I bring a lighter and some pre-prepared tinder. If I expect to have to cook my food, I've generally got an alcohol stove. If I expect to need to refill my water, I've got a filter. I still practice "what if" techniques, but that's mostly entertainment value, and I have no delusions of ending up living off the land in a true survival situation.

...why not INFI?

well, I'm not sure I could have access to a slab for use, and the other steels are available on the market (some more easily obtainable than others)

I meant, if I had a choice...INFI.

Going with what I have SR101. I could buy INFI but am happy with SR101. But if it is just a question with no other factors...INFI.

This is pretty much where I'm at, too - any Busse blades I buy at this point are because I like the design of the knife, and not because of the steel.

If I could have snagged an NMSFNO, Killa Z, or High Street for a lower price, made from SR-101, at BLADE, I would have. Well, maybe not the killa z... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

INFI <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Yes sir, SR101 is where it is at. I'm not going to pay a major premium for INFI unless I love the design. That is why I don't have any INFI blades at this point.