Which Stainless is Best For These Knife Types

[LYONEL]

I see a lot of different stainless steels being used in custom knives & assumed it had to do with what the knife is designed & used for & price.So forgetting the price part what would be considered the best all round stainless steels for these types of knives.

1/ Small Bowie or Camp Knife (General purpose use)
2/ Skinner
3/ Caper

Thanks in Advance

[milehi101]

I have used 440C in the past with good results

[amar911]

ATS-34
154CM

D2 is almost in the "stainless" range and is also a great knife steel.

Heat treatment is probably more important than which stainless steel you use, at least when using the better ones. There are some guys here who make some wonderful stainless steel knives, but most bladesmiths on this forum seem to use non-stainless, high carbon steels that have other desirable characteristics.

Allan