Knife steels, organized for actual decisions.

High-Carbon Steel

1095 is a simple carbon steel for hard-use fixed blades, field sharpening, and users who accept rust maintenance.

Tool Steel

10V is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Nitrogen-Enhanced Stainless Steel

14C28N steel profile with practical guidance on edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and maintenance.

Stainless Steel

154CM steel profile with practical guidance on edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and maintenance.

Tool Steel

15V is a wear-max tool steel built for extreme edge retention in enthusiast EDC knives, with major tradeoffs in sharpening speed and corrosion maintenance.

Tool Steel (Powder Metallurgy)

CPM-3V is a tough powder metallurgy tool steel for hard-use fixed blades, outdoor knives, and users who accept non-stainless maintenance.

Stainless Steel

420HC is a stainless knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Stainless Steel

440C is a stainless knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Tool Steel

A2 is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Stainless Steel

AEB-L is a fine-grained stainless steel for thin edges, kitchen knives, and users who value toughness and easy sharpening over maximum wear resistance.

Stainless Steel

AUS-8/8Cr13MoV is a stainless knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Stainless Steel

BD1N is a stainless knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Stainless Steel

CPM-154 is a stainless knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Tool Steel

CPM-CruWear is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Tool Steel

CPM-M4 is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Semi-Stainless Tool Steel

D2 steel profile with practical guidance on edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and maintenance.

Powder Metallurgy Stainless Steel

Elmax steel profile with practical guidance on edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and maintenance.

Tool Steel

K390 is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Stainless Steel

LC200N is a stainless knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Tool Steel

M2 is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Powder Metallurgy Stainless Steel

M390 is a premium powder metallurgy stainless steel for buyers who want strong edge retention and corrosion resistance, with harder sharpening and lower toughness as the tradeoff.

Stainless Steel

MagnaCut is a practical stainless knife steel for buyers who want high corrosion resistance, good toughness, and manageable sharpening.

Tool Steel

Maxamet is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Stainless Steel

N690 is a stainless knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Nitrogen-Enhanced Stainless Steel

A practical stainless knife steel with good toughness, easy sharpening, and useful corrosion resistance for everyday knives.

Tool Steel

Rex 121 is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Tool Steel

Rex 45/HAP40 is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Stainless Steel

S110V is a high-wear stainless steel for buyers who want long edge life and strong corrosion resistance, and who already have the sharpening gear to maintain it.

Powder Metallurgy Stainless Steel

S30V steel profile with practical guidance on edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and maintenance.

Stainless Steel

S35VN is a balanced stainless EDC steel that is easy to live with, easier to sharpen than many high-carbide options, and still corrosion resistant enough for normal carry.

Stainless Steel

S45VN is a modern Crucible stainless steel for EDC knives, offering strong corrosion resistance, balanced cutting performance, and moderate sharpening effort.

Powder Metallurgy Stainless Steel

S90V is a high-vanadium stainless steel for buyers who want extreme edge retention and accept harder sharpening and lower toughness.

Tool Steel

V4E/4V is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Tool Steel

Vanadis 8 is a tool knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.

Stainless Steel

Vanax is a nitrogen-alloyed stainless knife steel for buyers who prioritize corrosion resistance without giving up practical cutting performance.

Japanese Stainless Steel

VG-10 steel profile with practical guidance on sharpness, edge retention, corrosion resistance, sharpening, and common knife uses.

Stainless Steel

XHP is a stainless knife steel profile covering key tradeoffs in edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and sharpening difficulty.