The best steel for a hunting blade depends on several factors. Most hunting knives are made with either stainless steel or carbon steel. Stainless steel knives resist rust and are ideal for places that have high humidity levels. That said, stainless steel knives are not known for their edge retention. You will need to sharpen a stainless steel blade more often than a carbon steel blade. Carbon steel makes for a harder and potentially sharper blade that holds its edge longer than a stainless steel blade.