Hey I am glad to see this thread because I have been wondering what the consensus is on this. I have a Randall dive knife that is, of course, Stainless. I haven't used it yet but plan to at some point, and it seems like stainless would be the only logical choice there.

My gamemaster blade is carbon, and I am glad it is, so I can try that and see how I like it. It already has acquired some staining and blueing from cleaning fish and cutting some food items. Pretty cool. I have not sharpened it yet, and have written about this in another post.

Couple of things here-- many say "carbon but if in the wet, use stainless". Seems to me, with a knife that will be the main user, you may never know when you might get wet , or be in the wet. Especially on a multiday trip or camp event. WIll it be that bad when the knife starts getting wet if it is not salt water? What do you guys do, carry two knives, and chose depending on the weather????????????

Why do so many prefer carbon? The look, sharpening ease? Sparking ability? Less brittle? Other things?

Most of my other "user" knives are stainless of one grade or another. They have been excellent and I have had little trouble sharpening them. They perform well and look great.

But I can see how the carbon blade can have it's own appeal.

Is the stainless harder, or just more brittle?

Thanks for all your inputs,
Doug P.