In today's world, the humble knife has transformed into a versatile tool with varieties of unique features. One of the most crucial elements that define a knife's utility is the blade's material - the knife steel. Here, we’re going to delve deep into the world of knife steels, analyzing the best options available in the mark
Knife Steel Basics: What Matters?
When selecting a knife, it’s essential to understand the four fundamental properties of knife steel that directly influence its performance. These are hardness, toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance.
Hardness
Hardness in knife steels is a measure of a steel’s ability to resist deformation. It’s most commonly measured using the Rockwell C test. Most knife steels sit around the 58/62 HRC (hardness Rockwell C), depending on the grade. If your knife’s edge deforms permanently during use, it indicates insufficient hardness.
Toughness
Toughness refers to the steel’s ability to resist breakage, chipping, or cracking under stress or impact. In simpler terms, it’s the opposite of brittleness. The higher the toughness, the less likely the knife is to chip or break.
Wear Resistance
Wear resistance defines a material’s ability to withstand abrasion or erosion, maintaining its edge even after extensive use. This attribute depends on both the hardness level and the chemistry of the knife blade.
Corrosion Resistance
Corrosion resistance refers to the steel’s ability to resist rust and staining in damp, high-humidity, or salt environments. Although stainless steels are more resistant to corrosion, no steel is completely immune to it.
Classifying Knife Steels
To understand the various options available, it’s beneficial to categorize knife steels into four main types: stainless, tool, exotic, and Damascus.
Stainless Steels: These steels contain rust-resistant elements, reducing corrosion and staining. However, they aren’t entirely rust-proof.
Tool Steels: Known for their high carbon content and toughness, these steels are ideal for heavy-duty knives.
Exotic Steels: These lesser-used steels are highly specialized and serve very specific purposes.
Damascus Steels: These are combinations of multiple steels forged together, creating beautiful patterns in the final product.
Analyzing Various Steel Types
Now that we’ve understood the basics, let’s delve deeper into each type and explore some well-known steels within each category.
It’s crucial to remember that even the best steel won’t make a knife great on its own. Other factors, such as the knife design, blade geometry, and heat treatment, will also play a significant role in a knife’s overall performance.
Stainless Steels
420 steel
An affordable option, 420 steels have been used in knife-making for a long time and are commonly found in budget blades.
- Price: Budget
- Edge Retention: Very Low
- Ease of Sharpening: High
- Toughness: High
- Corrosion Resistance: High
440A
This steel offers better edge retention than the 420 series but has lower toughness. It’s another steel commonly found in budget knives.
- Price: Budget
- Edge Retention: Low
- Ease of Sharpening: High
- Toughness: Low
- Corrosion Resistance: High
440C
Designed as an upgrade to 440A, the addition of higher carbon content in 440C increases edge retention.
- Price: Budget
- Edge Retention: Mid
- Ease of Sharpening: Mid
- Toughness: Low
- Corrosion Resistance: High
8Cr13MoV
A budget-friendly steel made in China, 8Cr13MoV is very commonly found in budget-priced knives.
- Price: Budget
- Edge Retention: Low
- Ease of Sharpening: High
- Toughness: Mid
- Corrosion Resistance: Mid
14C28N
A higher-end budget-category Swedish-made steel, 14C28N has sufficient toughness to handle thinner edge geometry. It tends to be relatively expensive and difficult to sharpen, as it has high wear resistance.
- Price: Budget
- Edge Retention: Low
- Ease of Sharpening: High
- Toughness: Very High
- Corrosion Resistance: Very High
Tool Steels
O1
An extremely common low-cost steel, O1 has been used for many decades, and is very popular in hard-use outdoor knives.
- Price: Budget
- Edge Retention: Very Low
- Ease of Sharpening: Very High
- Toughness: Mid
- Corrosion Resistance: Very Low
Sleipner
An high-end steel made in Sweden. It has excellent edge retention and is quite tough, making it ideal for use in hunting knives. It is more expensive than other tool steels, but offers good corrosion resistance as well.
- Price: High
- Edge Retention: High
- Ease of Sharpening: Low
- Toughness: High
- Corrosion Resistance: Very High
A2
A low-cost steel, A2 is very popular among custom and handmade knife makers.
- Price: Budget
- Edge Retention: Low
- Ease of Sharpening: Very High
- Toughness: High
- Corrosion Resistance: Low
1095
A popular steel for outdoor knives due to its very high level of toughness, 1095 is used by both production and custom makers.
- Price: Budget
- Edge Retention: Very Low
- Ease of Sharpening: Very High
- Toughness: Very High
- Corrosion Resistance: Very Low
Exotic Steels
H1
A Japanese steel that is nearly rust-proof and incredibly tough, but with poor edge retention.
- Price: Mid
- Edge Retention: Very Low
- Ease of Sharpening: Very High
- Toughness: Very High
- Corrosion Resistance: Very High
LC200N
A premium German-made steel that is also nearly rust-proof, and has slightly less toughness but higher edge retention than H1.
- Price: High
- Edge Retention: Low
- Ease of Sharpening: High
- Toughness: High
- Corrosion Resistance: Very High
K390
A Swedish-made steel known for its excellent edge retention. Although it’s not very common, it is used in many Spyderco models.
- Price: High
- Edge Retention: Very High
- Ease of Sharpening: Low
- Toughness: Mid
- Corrosion Resistance: Low
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen, various steels offer different levels of hardness, toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. Depending on the intended use, different properties will be more or less important. The best steel for knives is not just about the best performing or the most expensive, but the one that suits your specific needs.
Whether you are a knife collector, an outdoor enthusiast, or someone who uses a knife for everyday tasks, understanding the different types of knife steel can help you make an informed decision when purchasing a new knife. Remember, the best knife steel is the one that suits your needs the best – be it a high-end steel that holds an edge for ages, a tough steel that won’t chip or break, or a budget-friendly option that gets the job done.
