Chris & Galoots,

Chris wrote "expect it's waaaay more complicated than that though..."

Yup, I think it is, and speaking from my experience after passing the point 
of sanity concerning knife steel you may just find yourself spending a good 
deal of time at this web site.

ht
tp://www.cliffstamp.com/knives/reviews/blade_materials.html#S_420

The stainless listings are about half way down.

Truth is Chris,  even if you were to spent hundreds of dollars on an exotic 
stainless blade you would probably never love it as much as your $12 carbon 
Opinel.

Marv Paisner
Kootenay Lake, BC


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christopher Swingley" 
> To put it into perspective I can understand, I looked up the steel in
> my favorite Opinel folder: X90 high carbon steel.  If the X90 actually
> indicates 0.9% carbon, that means the 440B and C could have as much
> carbon in them as my Opinel.  I've never met a stainless knife that
> could hold a candle to the $12 knife I carry in my pocket, but these
> numbers make me think it might be possible if carbon content is the
> metric that makes my folder so sharp, durable, and easy to sharpen.  I
> expect it's waaaay more complicated than that though...