Steel Charts
Compare knife steel edge retention, toughness, and corrosion.
Search, filter, and sort the core tradeoffs that actually shape buying decisions: toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. The goal is fast comparison, not spreadsheet theater.
How to use it
Search a single steel or a comma-separated shortlist like D2, S90V, MagnaCut.
Sort any metric column to expose patterns fast and compare realistic tradeoffs without digging through separate tabs.
Source data: Knife Steel Nerds
Data Credit
Knife Steel Nerds data, made easier to compare.
The ratings below come directly from metallurgist Larrin Thomas's Knife Steel Nerds data tables . This page turns them into an interactive comparison chart with fast filtering and sorting. The research, testing, and ratings are his, and he deserves full credit.
| Steel | Type | Toughness | Edge Retention | Corrosion Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10V | Tool | 5 | 8.5 | 4 |
| 14C28N | Stainless | 9 | 3 | 8.5 |
| 154CM | Stainless | 3.5 | 4.5 | 7 |
| 15V | Tool | 3.5 | 10 | 4 |
| 3V | Tool | 9 | 4.5 | 5.5 |
| 420HC | Stainless | 9 | 2.5 | 8 |
| 440C | Stainless | 3.5 | 4.5 | 7.5 |
| A2 | Tool | 6.5 | 2.5 | 3 |
| AEB-L | Stainless | 9 | 3 | 7 |
| AUS-8 / 8Cr13MoV | Stainless | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| BD1N | Stainless | 3.5 | 3.5 | 8.5 |
| CPM-154 | Stainless | 5 | 4.5 | 7 |
| CPM-CruWear | Tool | 8 | 5 | 5.5 |
| CPM-M4 | Tool | 6.5 | 6 | 4 |
| D2 | Tool | 3.5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Elmax | Stainless | 4 | 5.5 | 8 |
| K390 | Tool | 5.5 | 7.5 | 4 |
| LC200N | Stainless | 8.5 | 3 | 10 |
| M2 | Tool | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| M390 / 20CV / 204P | Stainless | 3.5 | 6.5 | 9 |
| MagnaCut | Stainless | 7 | 5 | 9.5 |
| Maxamet | Tool | 2 | 11 | 4.5 |
| N690 | Stainless | 3.5 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Nitro-V | Stainless | 7.5 | 3 | 7 |
| Rex 121 | Tool | 1 | 12 | 3.5 |
| Rex 45 / HAP40 | Tool | 4.5 | 6 | 4 |
| S110V | Stainless | 3 | 8 | 9 |
| S30V | Stainless | 4 | 6 | 7.5 |
| S35VN | Stainless | 5 | 5 | 7.5 |
| S45VN | Stainless | 4 | 5.5 | 8 |
| S90V | Stainless | 3.5 | 9 | 7.5 |
| V4E / 4V | Tool | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Vanadis 8 | Tool | 6 | 7.5 | 4 |
| Vanax | Stainless | 5 | 5.5 | 10 |
| VG10 | Stainless | 4 | 4.5 | 7.5 |
| XHP | Stainless | 5 | 5.5 | 6.5 |