What makes good knife steel

Japanese made equivalent to the series steel. Manufacturers consistently push the boundaries of science and technology to introduce superior alloys to the marketplace and boost profits. I remember the days when C was king, an impressive steel now relegated to the budget category. Sure, marketing plays a huge role today with companies using slick tactics to convince consumers that their latest steel is even better than the last.

Maxamet is the latest high speed powder steel from Carpenter aka CarTech. Both are ridiculously difficult to sharpen. Cru-Wear is a Crucible tool steel which can be thought of as a modification of D2 steel by dialing down the carbon and chromium while jacking up the vanadium and tungsten levels. Vanadium carbides beat out chromium for hardness and and lower carbon levels make for a tougher steel.

So, now it becomes comparable to CPM-3V and M4, with excellent toughness and thus resistance to chipping in knives. Bottom line is, CruWear is offered as a balance between 3V and M4. Basically a good balance of toughness and wear resistance. Alloying elements are an important ingredient vital in getting the best steel for the job. For more information see our knife steel composition guide. CPM stands for Crucible Particle Metallurgy which is a process for manufacturing high quality tool steels.

American Crucible Industries is the sole producer of CPM steels which are formed by pouring the molten metal through a small nozzle where high pressure gas bursts the liquid stream into a spray of tiny droplets. These droplets are cooled, solidified into a powder form and then hot isostatically pressed HIP where the powder is bonded and compacted. The trick here is that the HIP process ensures each of the fine particles have a uniform composition without any alloy segregation.

All this results in a steel that has improved toughness, wear resistance and can be ground and heat treated with maximum effect. However, the benefits of Austenitic steel are its toughness and superior corrosion resistance from high levels of chromium making it perfect for everyday items like forks, spoons, kitchen sinks, etc. Martensitic steel contains less chromium while still meeting the criteria for stainless steel but very little nickel thus making the steel magnetic.

What really sets martensitic steels apart is higher levels of carbon which allows for the formation of Martensite, an extremely hard structure making it ideal for knifemaking. Steel manufacturers can transform austenite into martensite through rapid quenching. There are many myths about the strength and capabilities of Damascus steel but today it is largely popular because of its aesthetic beauty.

Mostly for collectors only. Absolutely not. A massive factor in how a blade performs comes from Heat Treating. Heat treating is complicated and it requires skill to bring out the very best that the steel can offer.

Remember, blade steel is not everything. Knife buyers should beware getting caught up in researching the perfect steel type as it is not by itself the only thing that dictates how a knife will perform. The heat treatment techniques used by the manufacturer as well as the design of the blade itself play a huge role in the ultimate outcome of knife performance! In reality, all modern steels will perform well enough for most users so consider spending more time on other aspects of the pocket knife such as how the knife handles and other features.

At KnifeInformer. Ultimately, the different types of steel used in knife blades each exhibit varying degrees of these five key properties : Hardness Hardness is the ability to resist deforming when subject to stress and applied forces. Corrosion Resistance Corrosion resistance is the ability to resist corrosion such as rust caused by external elements like humidity, moisture and salt.

Edge Retention Edge Retention represents how long the blade will retain its sharpness when subject to periods of use. Common Knife Steel Types The most common blade steel types generally fall into the following categories: Carbon Steel — generally made for rough use where toughness and durability is important. Common in survival knives and machetes. They take a sharp edge and are relatively easy to re-sharpen. The trade-off is being more prone to corrosion given the low chromium content.

The most popular carbon knife steel is Tool Steel — primarily hard steel alloys used in cutting tools. CPM 3V plus more advanced high speed steels like M4.

Stainless Steel — basically carbon steel with added chromium to resist corrosion and other elements which increase performance levels but usually at the expense of inferior toughness. CPM SV. CPM S90V. Easy sharpening is typically related inversely to wear resistance and edge retention. To an extent, they do, but, unfortunately, steel is not that simple.

Adjusting the chemical recipe to highlight one key trait often comes at the expense of another. In other words, as long as adamantium remains fictional, compromise is inevitable. Easier to recall are the common groups that these steels fall into. Carbon steel, or high carbon steel, has good strength and is easy to sharpen but rusts easily and needs to be maintained regularly.

Stainless steel requires a minimum of The added chromium helps it resist corrosion but often negatively affects toughness. Stainless steel is the most popular type of knife steel today. There is a wide range of stainless steel varieties that knife makers use in their blades, all with varying traits and quality. Be prepared though — knives that use it, such as this Chris Reeve Impinda Slip Joint, tend to be expensive.

It does have low corrosion resistance, though, and needs regular care. Every type of steel will have some amount of carbon, and often, the amount can be telling of the quality of a blade. Low carbon means there is 0. Medium carbon is typically between 0. Chromium is what makes stainless steel stainless. Cobalt adds strength to the blade. Manganese hardens the blade but also makes it brittle if added in high quantities.

Nickel adds toughness to the blade. Molybdenum helps steel maintain strength at high temperatures. Tungsten increases wear resistance. Vanadium increases wear resistance and makes the blade harder. What Are the Main Types of Steel?

Tool Steel Tool steel is used for precisely what it sounds like, tools. Edge Retention or Sharpness The first thing that comes to mind when you think of a knife is its sharpness.

Corrosion Resistance Any steel can rust under the right conditions. How is Steel Graded and Classified? What are the Best Types of Steel for a Knife? This steel is also used in railroad tracks. It has high resistance to fracturing.

W2 Steel: W2 Steel is highly preferred for outdoor knives due to its extreme hardness and durability. W2 Steel is some of the toughest steel you can find and is excellent for outdoor knives. It is hard yet wear and corrosion-resistant.

It can be pounded down to a blade with an exceptionally thin edge. A2 Steel : A2 steel has higher levels of chromium and carbon and is very tough and durable. D2 Steel : D2 steel has even higher levels of carbon and chromium with added vanadium and cobalt for added toughness and corrosion resistance.

M2 Steel : M2 Steel is also known as high-speed steel due to its ability to withstand high temperatures without losing its hardness. Blades made from this material need to be sharpened frequently and are more likely to chip. On the bright side, all stainless steel is highly rust-resistant. This makes it an excellent material for diving knives since their constant contact with saltwater makes them more likely to rust.

The further along in the alphabet, the better it gets. Certain knife manufacturers have even gone so far as to rename C as other things to differentiate the quality of the product. It is the most rust-resistant of steel, and C is the least rust-resistant of the three. However, taken as a whole, the series is comprised of some of the most rust-resistant steel you can buy. AUS Series The most significant improvement of the AUS series made in Japan over the Series is the addition of vanadium, which improves wear resistance and provides excellent toughness.

AUS-8 Steel : This fairly popular steel has. It also has more vanadium than AUS-6, so it holds an edge better. Cold Steel likes to use this stuff a lot in its blades. AUS Steel: Our final option in this series has 1. It has more vanadium and less chromium than C, which makes it slightly tougher in comparison, and a little less rust-resistant.