A long time reader... not much for posting. I have one question: Comparing 440C vs ATS-34 vs D2 - how do the three types of steel compare to each other? I suspect they are more alike than different. For instance, the key areas for survival are: (1) Maintaining an edge, (2) able to sharpening, (3) rust resistance, (4) durability, (5) stress resistence.

They are all excellent steels. If you want to give yourself a headache, visit Bladeforums.com and Knifeforums.com and review the untold number of threads addressing this issue. Ultimately, you will be buying a new knife weekly or come to realize that this is very much a personal preference thing. It seems that heat treatment may well be more important than the steel itself as some of the less well regarded steels can be made to even equal the performance of the wonder steels with proper heat treat. _________________________________________________ Proverbs 21:19

The May issue of Tactical Knives contains a letter with the same question ( A-2, ATS-34, VG-10,440C and AUS-8.) Your 440C and ATS-34 were the tops for corrosion resistance, while A-2 was listed as the toughess. My small collection has a representative for all the basic steel families. Naturally Marine knives are S/S. The only specific steel I ever sought out was a high carbon, 60 Rockwell Swedish Mora. This is the only combination that will produce sparks with natural lithic materials ( and having done so, I bought 3 more disposable Bics.) Many knives now come with a protective finish such as epoxy powder coat or a phosphate parkerizing. Do not overlook oiling the edge on these. There are oils and waxes, silicone cloths etc. Don't make my mistake! Italian hard sausage is rarely improved with gun oil !

Hi Chris,<br>I noticed that you talked two times about Swedish Mora. What is? And how may it be used for fire starting? (I didn't completely understand the story about natural lithic materials aka rocks )<br><br>thanks,<br>mac

Mora is a region in Sweden. It is a center of manufacture for inexpensive knives with very good steels and edges. A common, but erroneous bit of survival lore is striking your knifeblade against a rock to produce sparks. To work, you need a knife of 60 Rockwell ( the measure of hardness) with a high carbon content. Anything softer, and the flint ( the same stone used in prehistoric edged tools) will merely dig into the metal. At 60 Rockwell the flint strikes minute particles of carbon in the metal, initiating a spark. This is the same technology used in flintlock firearms and fire steels.