Though I've been an active member on various knife forums for some time now, I'm fairly new to actually owning any of the Busse-kin line. Because I haven't been buying them, I haven't done much reading on many of the details of the steel properties in the Busse-kin lines. At the moment, I own a Rodent Waki and I'm on the pre-order list for the S5LE. At one point I had a Skeleton Warden, but I didn't really use it. From what I've read INFI is a great steel for mid-sized to larger blades. I haven't really read anything on how SR-101 and SR-77 hold up for smaller EDC type blades. I know the Busse-kins also use D2 and 154cm sometimes in the smaller knives. So I'm just curious, which of the steels do you think is the "best overall" (I'll let you define that) steel for smaller blades? How do they compare to other popular steels used nowadays from other makers in the small blade category (S30V, VG-10, S90V, O1, etc)?

Favorite steel for small fixed blades? single choice
	INFI
	SR-101
	SR-77
	D2
	154cm
	Other- Please specify
Votes accepted starting: 09/09/09 01:25 AM
View Results

Not sure if we can talk about other makers, but I can say these guys have the heat treatment down right, as far as the best for small? That depends on what your gonna do most of, which makes it why a lot buy most all the models, being that a knife if suppose to be a cutting tool, I'm going to vote against the "tougher" steels and take the ones that hold their edge longer, the busse kin has done a fantastic job with the 154 steel in my opinion, I'm in love with the sr101 however, for me id be happy with either of those 2

Okay, I'm sorry if we're not allowed to talk about other makers. Do you think it would be okay if people just named other steels that they personally prefer on smaller blades- That is IF they do prefer other steels? That might even help as market research (though I'm sure these guys know a lot more about which steels perform than at least most of us).

I don't see any problem with that

Although, all of these are great, especially with the busse HT, I chose 154CM for the smaller blades. It's stainless, takes a nice edge and isn't too difficult to sharpen. I own blades in all of these though and like them all. There are many other steels out there that would do well for 4" and under blades. I am trying to decide on a couple steels to stick with for my own knife-making and it is a very tough choice. You have to balance the characteristics that the user is looking for with the properties of the steel that make it either easy or hard to work with. I am hopefully going to choose 1 stainless and 1 non. So far, I have tried 1080 and D2. Next up will be CPM154 and CPMS30V. Honestly, I haven't found a bad steel yet. They are all good in their own way.

depends on what the little knife is for but 154cm is pretty nice .......

Anything except SR-77 is fine by me. They each have their strong points for a knife this size. SR-77, IMO, just makes too much of a tradeoff of giving up edge retention in exchange for toughness, and in a small knife edge retention is king. I don't need a sharpened prybar that's so short you can't get any leverage to pry with it.

I would say INFI or 154cm, but cost wise I'd go with the 154. I don't think you would go wrong with any of those.

I'm with fastcamo on this one, but I voted for 154cm since he didn't and I thought (wrongly) that it would be trailing.

My "real" first choice would be INFI, but if and only if price is not significantly impacted. Second is either SR-101 or 154cm -- I consider SR-101 a better "hard use" choice, but a good stainless has a lot going for it in an EDC-class fixed-blade.

I chose INFI.

SR-101 and 154CM next. Those two are kind of a toss-up.

i picked the sr101....but id choose INFI 2nd and 154 last.

154CM is a great steel for small blades. It holds an edge very well, resists corrosion, and is less expensive than INFI. It is tough, too. I know, I'm the guy who broke the tip on my new HCLE, but is was a freak thing and I don't normally do what I did to that knife with my small blades with thin points. Besides, Eric sent me another one so it's all good. I have batoned and dug and drilled with my MPLE. It has a thicker point profile. The Scrap Muk is another great knife in 154Cm, and it is not a small knife. It's a born skinner, and stainless is great for for skinning and food prep. In fact, I like all my SY and SR 154CM knives. My favorite is the Bird Dog. Love that wicked little sticker/slicer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />