Knife Steel Guide and Glossary

Knife Steel Guide

Knife Steel Properties

Corrosion Resistance
Corrosion resistance is the ability to resist corrosion (like rust) from humidity, moisture, and salt. It is an important property for knives used in wet or humid environments. A high resistance to corrosion can result in a decrease of overall edge retention.

Examples of steel with good corrosion resistance include: H1, VG-10, S30V, and S35VN.

Edge Retention
Edge retention is the ability to maintain sharpness over time with regular use. Knife steels that have good edge retention can keep a sharp edge for longer periods of time before resharpening is required. A trade-off for good edge retention is decreased toughness or more difficulty with sharpening.

Examples of steel with good edge retention include: M390, CPM-20CV, CPM-S110V, and CPM-S90V.

Hardness
Hardness is the ability to maintain shape and resist deformation when stress and force are applied. Hardness is often measured on the Rockwell hardness scale (HRC), which involves applying a certain weight to the steel and measuring the depth of indentation that occurred. A hardness level of around 58-62 HRC is typically considered good for knife steel, as it offers a good balance between edge retention and toughness.

Examples of steel with good hardness include: D2, CPM-S30V, CPM-S35VN, and CPM-M4.

Toughness
Toughness refers to the ability of the steel to resist chipping or breaking under impact or heavy use. It is important for durability and reliability. Toughness is commonly measured with the Charpy or Izod impact tests. These tests measure the energy absorbed by the steel before it fractures.

Examples of steel with good toughness include: 1095, A2 and CPM-3V.

Knife Steel Types
*You can use our advanced search feature to filter your search results by steel type*

AEB-L
AEB-L is known for its hardness and toughness. It has a fine carbide structure that contributes to good wear resistance, sharpness, and hardness without sacrificing toughness. It is a steel that can withstand everyday wear and tear.

AUS-8A
AUS-8A is a Japanese steel that is easy to sharpen and has a good balance of toughness and corrosion resistance for daily use. It has a relatively low carbon content. AUS-8A is similar to the 440 lines of steels.

A-2
A-2 steel is a tool steel known for its strength and toughness. It is a high carbon, nickel, and vanadium alloyed steel and is not considered stainless, so proper care is suggested to keep it free of rust. A-2 steel falls between 58-60 HRC. It is commonly used by brands like Bark River.

Blue Steel/White Steel
Blue steel is manufactured in Japan, by Hitachi Ltd (called blue or white because of the paper it’s wrapped in pre-production). Nagao Higonokami and Spyderco both use blue steel, which is very strong and retains a good edge. They are considered carbon and not stainless, so proper care is suggested to avoid rust.

Carbon 1095
Carbon 1095 steel is a carbon steel and is by far the most widely used steel among outdoor and survival style fixed blades. It has great wear resistance, is fairly easy to sharpen, and all-around tough. Carbon 1095 falls between 56-58 HRC. Many brands use carbon 1095, including ESEE, Ka-Bar, and TOPS. Because this is a carbon steel, proper care is required to avoid corrosion. You will find most carbon 1095 blades are coated for a layer of extra rust protection, but it is important to keep it dry and oil the blade from time to time.

CPM CruWear
CPM CruWear is a high-performance steel known for its excellent toughness and edge retention. It is a tool steel that is often used in environments where extreme durability and wear resistance is required. It is known for holding a sharp edge under heavy use. It is typically used by brands like Benchmade.

CPM 3V
CPM 3V steel is a tough high-carbon steel with an approximate hardness of 58-62 HRC. It was designed by Crucible Industries as a heavily wear and abrasive resistant steel. It is used by brands like Cold Steel and Bark River in some of their select fixed blades.

CPM M4
CPM M4 steel is a tough American powder steel. Used in Benchmade and Spyderco knives, the Crucible Industries M4 steel is a high carbon, premium steel with great edge retention and wear resistance. Its approximate hardness is between 62-64 HRC. M4 is not considered stainless, so proper maintenance is required to avoid corrosion.

CPM 20CV
CPM 20CV is a premium stainless steel made in the United States (US) by Crucibles Industries. Similar to S30V (listed below), it has slightly better edge retention and has good corrosion resistance. It is used by brands such as Benchmade and Rick Hinderer. Its hardness is approximately between 58-61 HRC.

CPM S30V
CPM S30V is the one of the most popular premium US made steels. It is a tough stainless steel falling at 58-60 HRC, has excellent edge retention, and good corrosion resistance. Companies such as Benchmade, Zero Tolerance and Spyderco use S30V for their many of their knives.

CPM S35VN
CPM S35VN is similar to S30V but with less vanadium carbides and added niobium carbides. The difference of niobium makes the S35VN less likely to chip and easier to sharpen. Doing all of that without giving up toughness at 58-61 HRC, S35VN is highly regarded as one of the best premium steels in the knife industry today. S35VN is the bread and butter of high-end brand Chris Reeve Knives.

CPM S45VN
CPM S45VN is a martensitic stainless steel designed to offer improved corrosion and wear resistance over CPM S35VN. Its chemistry has been rebalanced so that it forms more chromium carbides, while at the same time leaving more free chromium in the matrix. The use of niobium and nitrogen in place of some of the vanadium and carbon produces an excellent combination of edge retention, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and toughness properties making this the ideal choice for an EDC knife steel.

CPM S90V
CPM S90V is a premium stainless steel made in the United States by Crucible Industries. It is a high carbon stainless steel with vanadium to give it its strength. It has excellent wear resistance and lands between 57-60 HRC. Brands which use S90V include Benchmade and Spyderco.

CPM S110V
S110V steel is a super stainless steel made in the United States by Crucibles Industries. It has excellent wear resistance and is very corrosion resistant. Spyderco is currently one of the only brands to use this super steel. Its hardness is between 58-61 HRC.

CrMoV Series
The CrMoV are value priced stainless steels generally produced in China and Taiwan. They meet the basic requirements of a stainless steel, with a minimum of 12% chromium and are easy to sharpen and care for. Just about everybody uses CrMoV steel in their knives, including Spyderco, CRKT and Kershaw.

CTS BD1
CTS-BD-1 is a stainless steel which is vacuum melted. This allows for better edge retention and allows this steel to be sharpened to a finer point. It has a hardness of 58-60 HRC.

D2
D2 is a very popular and affordable steel. It is known to have a longer-lasting edge retention compared to other non-powder steels. It has excellent hardness and wear resistance. Due to being high in chromium, it has high corrosion resistance.

Elmax
Elmax steel is a premium, high carbon stainless steel made by Böhler-Uddenholm. Its approximate hardness is between 58-60 HRC. It has excellent edge retention and is highly corrosion resistant. Elmax steel is often used by the US-brand Zero Tolerance.

H-1
H-1 is a strong, reliable, rust-proof steel manufactured for Spyderco for the 'Salt Series' knives. It is best suited for use around salt water, in or around boats, for diving, or other conditions where contact with water is inevitable. Unlike any other steel, the edge of H-1 actually becomes harder with use, allowing the blade to keep its edge longer over time.

K390
K390 is said to have one of the best edge retention performances of current market knives. It contains high levels of vanadium which contribute to its hardness and edge retention. It is typically used for outdoor knives and is used by brands like Spyderco.

LC200N
LC200N is the top tier steel for saltwater or humid environments. It is commonly used in fishing and fillet knives. It has great edge retention and is easily sharpened. It is used commonly by Spyderco.

Magnacut
Magnacut is a relatively new high-performance steel developed by Niagara Specialty Metals. It is known for having great edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. Magnacut has a fine-grained structure and a high carbon content, which contributes to an excellent cutting performance.

M390
M390 is a premium steel produced by Austrian tool manufacturer Böhler -Uddeholm. It is a high-end stainless steel with excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance. Brands like Benchmade and Lion Steel use M390 in several models. Approximate hardness is between 60-62 HRC.

Niolox
Niolox steel is a semi-stainless tool steel made in Germany. It is known for its ability to hold an edge while being used in hard-wearing situations and is slightly easier to sharpen than some other harder tool steels. Niolox’s stainless properties are minimal, so proper care is required to avoid corrosion. Hardness lies between 59-61 HRC.

Nitro-V
Nitro-V is a very well-balanced steel. It has excellent wear resistance, toughness, and corrosion resistance. It was originally formulated for the kitchen knife industry, but due to its toughness and ease of sharpening, it became a popular steel for pocket knives.

N690Co
N690Co (cobalt) is high-end stainless steel which is produced by Austrian Tool company Böhler-Uddeholm. N690Co is favoured heavily by European knife makers such as FOX Knives and Extrema Ratio. Its hardness is generally 58-60 HRC.

SK-5
SK-5 steel is a tough Japanese high carbon steel, roughly similar to 1080 carbon steel. Its hardness can range anywhere from 55 HRC (on axes etc.) to 63+HRC (knives, chisels etc.). It is used mostly in fixed blades and spears.

Sleipner
Sleipner is steel produced by Bohler-Uddeholm. It's a high alloyed tool steel with high hardness and good wear resistance. DPX and Lion Steel use Sleipner steel in their knives.

VG-10
VG10 is a Japanese steel that is found in many quality kitchen knives, as it features a high resistance to corrosion, is easy to sharpen, and has good edge retention.

ZDP-189
ZDP-189 steel made by Hitachi is an extremely tough stainless steel. The addition of tungsten gives it a hardness of 64-66 HRC. It’s a high carbon, stainless premium steel and has excellent edge retention, meaning it stays sharp for longer, but may take a little more effort to sharpen when it does finally become dull.

80CrV2
80CrV2 is a cast, high-carbon tool steel. It has excellent edge retention and toughness. Commonly used by brands like Winkler Knives.

154CM
154 CM steel is a premium stainless steel manufactured in the United States. It is widely used by companies like Benchmade and Kansept, has good edge retention, and is easy to sharpen. It has an approximate hardness of 58-61 HRC.

14C28N
14C28N Sandvik has excellent hardness, corrosion resistance, and edge retention due to it containing a higher amount of nitrogen and chromium than traditional stainless steels.

1.4116 Krupp
4116 Krupp steel originates from Germany, is produced by ThyssenKrupp, and is normally manufactured in Taiwan. It is a good mid-range stainless steel with good corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening, with qualities similar to 420HC steel. Its approximate hardness lies between 55-57 HRC. This steel is used by brands such as Cold Steel and CRKT.

420HC
420HC is a high carbon stainless steel (the “HC” actually means “higher carbon”). 420HC steel falls between 56-59 HRC, making it generally harder than standard 420 stainless steel. It is known for having strong corrosion resistance and moderate edge retention. 420HC is readily used by brands such as Buck and Condor.

440A and 440B
440A and 440B are placed together because of their similarities. They are stainless steels and are generally used on value-priced folding and fixed blade knives.

440C
440C steel is the third part of 440 stainless series and is categorized apart from the other two because of its higher carbon content. It has been used in knives since the turn of the century and was once known as the premium steel. Steels have come a long way since then, but it is still widely used today by brands like Boker. It is fairly resistant to wear and abrasion and its hardness falls around 59-61 HRC.

Carbon Steel Compositions

Steel	C (%)	Mn (%)	Si (%)
Blue/White	1.3	0.25	0.15
Carbon 1095	0.95	0.40

High Alloy/High Speed Tool Steel Compositions

Steel	Process	C (%)	Cr (%)	Mo (%)	V (%)	W (%)	Co (%)
A2	Ingot	1	5	1	0.2
CPM 3V	PM	0.8	7.5	1.3	2.75
CruWear	Ingot/PM	1.1	7.5	1.6	2.4	1.15
D2	Ingot/PM	1.5	12	1	1
K390	PM	2.47	4.2	3.8	9	1	2
M4	Ingot/PM	1.4	4	5	4	5.5
SK5	Ingot	0.9	0.3
Sleipner		0.9	7.8	2.5	0.5

Low Alloy Steel Compositions

Steel	C (%)	Mn (%)	Si (%)	Cr (%)	Mo (%)	V (%)
80CrV2	0.8	0.5	0.3	0.5		0.2

Stainless Steel Compositions

Steel	Process	C	Cr	Mo	V	W	Co	Others
AEB-L	Ingot	0.68	12.9
AUS-8	Ingot	0.70	13	0.1	0.1			0.5Mn, 1.0Si
CPM S30V	PM	1.45	14	2	4			0.20N
CPM S35VN	PM	1.4	14	2	4			0.5Nb
CPM S45VN	PM	1.48	16	2	3			0.5Nb, 0.15N
CPM S90V	PM	2.3	14	1	9
CPM S110V	PM	2.8	15.25	2.25	9		2.5	3Nb, 0.15N
CPM 20CV	PM	1.9	20	1	4	0.6
CTS BD1	Ingot	0.9	16	0.3	0.1
Elmax	PM	1.7	18	1	3
H1	PM	0.15	19					10Ni, 2.0Mn
LC200N	PESR	0.3	15	1				0.40N
MagnaCut	PM	1.15	10.7	2	4			2Nb, 0.2N
M4		1.25	3.75	4.25	3.75	5.25		0.20Mn
M390	PM	1.9	20	1	4	0.6
Niolox	Ingot	0.8	12.7	1.1	0.9			0.7Nb
Nitro-V	Ingot	0.68	13		0.8			0.11N
N690	Ingot	1.07	17.3	1.1	0.1		1.5
VG-10	Ingot	1	15	1	0.2		1.5
ZDP-189	PM	3	20	1.4	0.1	0.6
1.4116	Ingot	0.5	15	0.65	0.2
154CM	Ingot/PM	1.05	14	4
420HC	Ingot	0.45	13
440A/440B	Ingot	0.7	17	0.5
440C	Ingot	1.05	17	0.3
14C28N	Ingot	0.62	14					0.11N

If you feel you know more than we do about a steel, you are probably right. These charts are for those who are looking for some basic information and helpful guide in finding the right knife.
Percentages and details were taken from manufacturer information guides and steel manufacturers.

Handle Materials

Aluminum
Aluminum is a very durable and lightweight yet solid material. Because it is usually anodized, the extra hardness and protective layer helps resist corrosion.

Bone
Bone is a very traditional material. It is made of naturally deceased animals, but most commonly cow bones. Some other materials may also be used, such as antlers, horns and tusks. Bone tends to be quite slippery due to its smoothed and polished look, so handles will often have grooves engraved to add grip.

Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is a lightweight and high-end material. It is reinforced polymer, which are thin strands of carbon woven then set in resin. Truly a beautiful handle material!

FRN/GRN
Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN) and Glass Reinforced Nylon (GRN) is both lightweight and durable. It is used by many brands, like the popular Spyderco Delica and Benchmade Griptilian (Grivory®).

G10
G10 consists of fiberglass layers pressed with resin. Usually has a rough surface allowing for good gripping, although G-10 can be sanded down resulting in a smooth patterned look. It is one of the most common knife handle materials that has good wear resistance in most conditions.

Leather
Leather is more commonly used for traditional hunting and military knives. The handle is composed of leather wrapped tightly around another material, then coated for a polished look. Brands like Boker, Ka Bar, and Gil Hibben frequently use leather for handles.

Micarta
Micarta consists of pressed layers of fabric (e.g., linen, canvas etc.) with an injected resin. Micarta is very common in fixed blade knives and is a naturally durable and well gripping handle material.

Stainless Steel
Stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance and is very durable, but as a trade-off it is a heavy material. Typically, manufacturers put etching and/or ridges to improve the grip of the knife as it can be slippery.

Titanium
Titanium has the best corrosion resistance of any metal. It is heavier than aluminum, but doesn’t weigh down your pocket.

Wood
Wood handles offer a more tradition and classic look. In general, wood is not as wear resistant to the elements as other handle materials, although some woods are injected with resins to give it a bit extra protection (e.g., Pakkawood, Dymondwood).

Blade Finishes

Bead Blasted
Bead blasted is when the blade is “blasted” or sprayed with a mix of glass and aluminum-oxide beads under high speed and pressure. This creates a non-reflective, matte look.

Black Oxide
A chemical bath changes the surface of the steel to magnetite which creates a shiny, more corrosive resistant blade.

Cerakote
Cerakote is a high-performance polymer-ceramic composite coating. The coating increases the wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and increases strength and hardness.

DLC
Diamond-like carbon (DLC) has properties that are similar to diamond, like its hardness, wear resistance, and reduced friction.

Satin
Satin is a faint pattern of vertical lines across a blade. It is typically a very shiny and smooth finish that is lighter in colour compared to bead blasted.

Stonewash
Stonewash finish is created by tumbling blades with ceramic stones/rocks to create a scuffed look. This finish helps hide scratches and fingerprints.

Lock Types

AXIS
The AXIS lock is an ambidextrous locking mechanism, patented by Benchmade. To unlock an AXIS lock knife, simply pull the AXIS ball down and fold the blade into the closed position. This is very strong, easy to use lock which allows smooth opening and closing.

Back
The back lock is a very strong locking mechanism. The release of the lock is located on the back spine of the handle and is released by pushing down until the blade unlocks. Cold Steel calls their back lock the Tri-Ad ® lock, which a is patented design that is arguably one of the strongest locks in the industry.

Button Lock
Button lock is a type of lock mechanism that is activated by a button to secure the blade in place when open. It is a small button located on the handle of the knife and when pressed, it disengages the lock and allows the blade to close.

Compression
The compression lock is a strong lock, exclusively developed by Spyderco Knives. The lock is located on the back of the handle and looks like a backwards liner lock. To unlock, simply move the liner over and fold the blade.

Frame
The frame lock is similar to the liner lock. A frame lock knife does not have handle scale on the back of the handle, allowing the entire frame to move over to the lock the blade into position. To unlock a frame lock, simply move the frame piece over and fold the blade.

Liner
The liner lock is the most commonly used lock in folding knives. The inner liner of the handle moves over the right and locks the blade into an open position. To unlock a liner lock, move the liner back to the left and fold the blade down.

Slip-Joint
Slip-joint means that a knife is non-locking and is held open or closed by friction alone. Many countries in Europe and throughout the world do not allow locking folders, so many companies have expanded into the slip-joint market. Also, many classic style trappers from Buck or Case do not have locks. The mechanism can vary, but to close a slip-joint knife, hold the handle firmly and push the blade into the closed position.

Flashlight Terminology Guide

Lumens
A unit of measure for visible light emitted by a light source. In general, the higher the lumens, the brighter the light.

 Common Battery Types

AA
Double A batteries (AA) are heavy-duty and are typically used in devices that consume more energy, such as high lumen and distance flashlights.  (See 14500 for rechargeable option).

CR123A
The most common lithium-ion battery used in modern flashlights, cameras, and other high-power technology. Standard SUREFIRE batteries are disposable. Usually 3V, these batteries allow for more power, brightness, and battery life when comparing to an AA or AAA flashlight. There are single rechargeable options for these batteries including the 16340 and 18350. Check your flashlight specifications before trying a rechargeable as the voltage is higher and size varies from the standard disposable CR123A battery.

14500
A lithium-ion rechargeable battery with similar dimension to a standard AA battery. Please note that voltage differs between a standard AA and a 14500 rechargeable; check your flashlight specifications before using this battery to ensure it is compatible.

17650
A rechargeable battery which replaces 2 x CR123A batteries in select lights. Many Foursevens lights will accept this slimmer battery due to the cartridge size. See your light specs for further details.

18650
A rechargeable battery most commonly used to replace 2 x CR123A batteries in select flashlights. Below are a few things to be aware of when searching for the right rechargeable battery.     

•   Higher milliampere-hour (mAh) 18650s will generally hold a longer charge and extend the life of a battery charge. They can vary from 2200mAh to 3600mAh. Check your flashlight specs before trying this battery type.
• 18650 batteries with a flat top will not work in all flashlights. Check your flashlight specs for further information.
• All Fenix flashlights will accept both flat and button top batteries. Some Nitecore flashlights will only accept button top. SureFire flashlights will NOT accept 18650 batteries. Most Foursevens flashlights only take 1760 rechargeable batteries (see 1760 section).
• DO NOT use 2 x rechargeable CR123A in lieu of one 18650. The voltage is too high and may damage your light.

For your Information
This information is only meant as a guide and we cannot guarantee all the information is accurate.