But you want to study the theoretical part first, because the acquisition is not from the budget.

Before you read the article, our promo code MHKNIFE gives you an 8% discount on any knife over 10,000 rubles from our range! Just enter the code in the "Discount Coupon" field when placing an order.

What do you think is the key parameter when choosing a knife? His appearance? Design? Or maybe the size? No. The knife starts with steel. The quality, functionality and durability of the future blade depends on it. It is she who determines its value. We have tried to summarize briefly the main types of steels, their comparison and characteristics.

From a physical and chemical point of view, steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, where special alloying components are introduced. They allow you to give the metal the desired properties and, in essence, determine the type of steel. Its performance also depends on production processes, rolling and hardening.

Key characteristics of the material

1. Hardness. This parameter demonstrates the ability of the material not to deform under force or pressure. It is measured on the Rockwell scale (HRC).
2. Strength. This characteristic reflects the resistance of the material to chipping and cracking when used in difficult conditions. It also shows how much the blade can bend without total deformation.
3. Corrosion resistance. A parameter that characterizes the resistance of steel to rust, pitting and other corrosion damage caused by the environment.
4. wear resistance. Characteristic that determines the resistance of the material to adhesive and abrasive effects. It depends on the chemical composition of the steel and its hardness.
5. Cutting edge retention. An important parameter that determines how long the blade will remain sharp with regular use. There is no standardized way to measure this parameter. It is determined by the subjective feelings of users.

It should be noted that the highest HRC value is not an indicator of high quality steel. Such material will perfectly hold the cutting edge, but cracks and chips will appear on it rather quickly. Moreover, a blade that is too hard can shatter like glass. But too soft steel cannot be considered high-quality - it will hardly cut most materials.

Strength does not have a standard school of measurement. It's also worth considering that hard steel is likely to have less strength, and vice versa.

Oddly enough, almost completely protected from corrosion steel reduces the overall performance of the blade. Therefore, the corrosion resistance of the work knife should be moderate.

When considering two blades with the same hardness value, the one with more carbides will be more wear resistant.

It would seem that in order to buy the perfect knife, you need to choose a model whose blade has the maximum performance of all the characteristics described above. In practice, everything is more complicated, because if the hardness of the blade is maximum, then it will be very fragile and will not be able to withstand even minimal interaction with hard materials. If the strength is maximum, then the blade will not keep sharpening. Therefore, only that knife can be considered ideal, in which all these parameters are balanced with each other.

Steel types

Three types of steel are actively used in knife production today:

• instrumental. It is used in the manufacture of cutting tools, characterized by high hardness. Examples of tool steels are alloys D2, O1, CPM 3V and M4;
• carbonaceous. It is a strong and durable material that is suitable for use in difficult conditions. Indispensable in the production of machetes, various knives for work and survival in difficult conditions. It is subject to corrosion, but it is easily sharpened and retains its sharpness for a long time. The most popular example of such steel is alloy 1095.
• stainless. A type of carbon steel, which contains at least 13% chromium and other additives that improve the performance properties of the material, but reduce its strength. This type of steel includes Sandvik, VG, 400, SxxV, MoV, AUS, 154CM, CTS, etc.

Overview of modern steels used in knife making

Budget Steels

Medium grade steels

Steel	Composition features	Characteristics	Application
1095	Contains about 1% carbon.	It holds the cutting edge well, is not afraid of corrosion, and does not lend itself to chipping. Can be sharpened to razor sharp.	Belongs to the number of the most used steels due to good performance and inexpensive production. Indispensable for the production of large knives with fixed blades used by tourists and others when performing heavy work.
13C26	The material is similar to 440A steel, but the percentage of chromium and carbon in it is slightly higher.	AEB-L version produced by the Sandvik brand. Resistant to oxidation, quite hard.	Steel designed specifically for razor blades.
420 HC	Increased carbon content.	It is considered the best representative of the 420th series. Has high hardness. Due to high-quality heat treatment, it can demonstrate excellent antioxidant properties and confidently hold the cutting edge.	Since this steel is considered one of the best in terms of resistance to corrosion processes, it is used by many well-known manufacturers, for example, Buck.
440A	Compared to 420CH, this material contains more carbon.	A hard steel that can hold a cutting edge for a long time. Afraid of corrosion.	Wide scope.

quality steels

1. 14 C28N- stainless steel, which is an improved steel 13C26 (corrosion resistance has been increased). In its composition, the amount of carbon was reduced and the proportion of chromium was increased, and nitrogen also appeared. Steel is produced by the Sandvik brand from Sweden and is distinguished by the possibility of sharpening to a razor-sharp state. This steel is very much loved by the Kershaw brand.
2. 8 Cr13MoV. Chinese material, the characteristics of which are similar to those of AUS-8 steel. But steel from China has more carbon. Valued for a balanced combination of "price-quality", actively used by Spyderco and other well-known brands.
3. CTS-BD1. A material developed by the American brand Carpenter specifically for Spyderco. Similar to AUS-8 and 8Cr13MoV but superior in edge retention. Moreover, due to the high chromium content, the steel in question resists corrosion better. It is easily sharpened (there are small carbides in the composition), although it is inferior to materials with large carbides (for example, G-10) in terms of retention time.
4. AUS-8. Durable Japanese steel, similar in properties to 440C material. It differs from the latter by lower hardness and greater resistance to corrosion. Effortlessly sharpens to a razor-like state, although the cutting edge retains worse than its older comrades, containing more chromium.
5. 440 C. A versatile material that has long been considered the leader among knife steels. He lost his position only with the advent of super steels. Today it is used for the production of tools of medium cost, it is characterized by exceptional corrosion resistance (contains a maximum of carbon and chromium among the steels in this subgroup), rather high wear resistance and hardness. The cutting edge is kept sharp better than 420HC steel, and sharpening is no less simple.

High quality steel

Steel	Composition features	Characteristics	Application
N680	17% chromium; 0.2% nitrogen	Excellent anti-corrosion capabilities. Easy to sharpen. Decently holds the cutting edge. It is considered an affordable modification of the H1, but in terms of edge retention it is significantly inferior to the ATS-34 and 154CM.	Suitable for knives and other products that often fall into salt water.
H1		Excellent resistance to corrosion, almost does not rust. But it doesn't hold the edge very well.	This steel makes the best scuba diving knives. But for EDC it is better to use another material.
VG-10	Contains strength-enhancing vanadium. In terms of chromium content, it surpasses 154CM and ATS-34 steels.	Is different high rates corrosion resistance and strength. Has sufficient strength. It retains the sharpness of the blade well, but there is a risk of chipping, since the steel is brittle. In general, a good, and most importantly, time-tested option.	It is actively used by the Spyderco brand and other companies operating in a similar price segment.
D2	It is called "semi-stainless" because it contains less chromium than analogues, but still resists corrosion well.	It surpasses steels 154CM and ATS-34 in hardness, holds the edge well. In terms of strength, it is a confident “middle peasant”, it sharpens poorly.	Suitable for the production of high quality and not too expensive knives.
154CM	Contains molybdenum. The amount of chromium is much less than that of steel 440C.	It is considered an improved version of the 440C material. It has an equally outstanding resistance to oxidation, has a decent strength. Excellent edge retention. Works great with abrasives.	Widely used by leading manufacturers, including Benchmade.
ATS -34	The composition is similar to 154CM.	Japanese equivalent 154CM. Characterized by high quality. Compared to 440C, it is more prone to corrosion, but has better edge retention.	A popular steel among many knifemakers.

Premium steel

Steel	Composition features	Characteristics	Application
CPM S30V	Contains vanadium carbides and niobium.	Not afraid of corrosion and perfectly holds the edge. Has a very hard alloy matrix. Thanks to niobium, it is easy to process. The balance of hardness and strength is almost perfect.	American manufacturers like to use this steel for the production of professional kitchen utensils, various models of pocket knives.
CPM S35VN	Differs in fine-grained structure. Contains niobium.	This steel is an improved variation of the incredibly popular S30V material. It is distinguished by exceptional strength and easy sharpening, resistance to oxidation and the ability to hold an edge confidently.	It is used as massively as S30V steel. It is considered a model of supersteels.
CPM M4		High performance carbon material showing better cutting edge retention. Differs in the high durability, wear resistance and pliability to processing. Due to the small amount of chromium in the composition, it is afraid of corrosion. Difficult to sharpen.	A good option for those cases when the knife must be strong and wear-resistant at the same time.

Ultra premium steel

1. CTS-XHP- material from an American brand that appeared on the market not so long ago. It has a hardness of 61 HRC and edge holding power better than S30V. This steel is produced from a powder with a very fine grain. In many ways, it is similar to D2 material, but resists corrosion much more effectively. Sharpening requires some effort.
2. Elmax. Another powder steel, which is high in molybdenum, chromium and vanadium. It is not afraid of oxidizing agents, is characterized by exceptional wear resistance and long-term edge retention. Steel belongs to the class of stainless steel, but its properties are in many respects similar to carbonaceous materials. Sharpening is relatively easy. Elmax is considered to be one of the best steels in the world. Many premium manufacturers use it, including Bohler.
3. ZDP-189- steel produced by Hitachi with a very high percentage of chromium and carbon in the alloy. Its hardness reaches 64 HRC, as a result, the cutting edge is held perfectly. But sharpening requires considerable effort, as well as corrosion protection - the resistance of this material to oxidative processes is significantly lower than that of S30V.
4. M390- third generation steel containing tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium and chromium. It confidently holds the edge and resists corrosion, is resistant to wear and hardness. After heat treatment, the last parameter can reach 60-62 HRC.
5. CPMS90V- expensive material with a high carbon content. Also includes vanadium, three times the amount of S30V and Elmax. The steel is incredibly resistant to abrasion and wear, and holds the cutting edge perfectly. But it is not easy to machine it, however, like other steels of this class.

A few words about powder steel

In the descriptions above, you probably noticed the abbreviation CPM in the names of some steels. This abbreviation can be translated into Russian as powder metallurgy Crucible. Crucible is the name of an American brand that produces exceptional quality tool steels.

The company uses a special technology, as a result of which molten steel is processed into a fine powder. It is pressed in pre-prepared forms, in which it is subsequently baked. It is easy to introduce various additives into such a powder, which makes it possible to produce steel with certain operational parameters.

Is Damascus steel that good?

There were legends about Damascus steel at one time. They composed it so well that people uninitiated in knife art still think that such steel is a true standard. Let's dispel this myth. Damascus steel is inferior to most modern alloys. It is interesting only for its unusual swirling pattern, which is mostly attracted by collectors.

Summing up

As you can see, perfect steel does not exist. But for each of the tasks there is an optimal variant of the metal alloy. He should be chosen. We also advise you to pay attention to other characteristics of the finished product: its design, construction, workmanship, etc. After all, in fact, all modern knife steels fully satisfy the needs of the average user. The difference is noticeable only to professionals.

This article covers the topic, however, if you still have additional questions, please contact us for advice and help with the choice by phone or leave a request on the site.

For the most attentive, who have read the article to the end and have not yet bought from us, we repeat, we have prepared a special promo code MHKNIFE, which gives you an 8% discount on any knife more than 10,000 rubles from our range! Just enter the code in the "Discount Coupon" field when placing an order.

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Popular knife steels

420HC (High Carbon)- a higher carbon (0.44-0.60%) variety of the popular 420 martensitic stainless steel. It has a high content of carbon (C) and chromium (Cr), which gives good cutting properties and blade edge resistance.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.54%, Chromium (Cr) - 14%, Silicon (Si) - 1%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.80%, Vanadium (V) - 0.18%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1%.

Currently widely used by manufacturers different countries for the production of knives. Knives made of such steel are moderately strong, keep sharpening well, are easy to sharpen (regrind) and have excellent corrosion resistance.

Buck and SOG from 420HC steel produce excellent knives, reaching a blade hardness of 57 Hrc. After cryogenic treatment, during hardening, 420HC becomes equal in characteristics to 440A steel. This is how Buck conducts heat treatment and hardening of blades at Paul Boss, significantly increasing its quality and consumer performance. At the output, 420HC steel is strikingly different from similar steel from other knife manufacturers.

Analogues: USA 440A and 425M; Japan AUS-6A; China 7Cr17MoV and 5Cr15MoV; Sweden 12S27; RF 65X13: Russia 50X14MF.

440C- modern chromium steel with an excellent combination of high hardness and excellent corrosion resistance. The most suitable of the entire group of 440 steels for the production of folding knife blades, as the hardest.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.10%, Chromium (Cr) - 17.00%, Silicon (Si) - 1.00%, Manganese (Mn) - 1.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 0.75%, Phosphorus (P) - 0.04%, Sulfur(S) - 0.03%.

It has good cutting edge resistance against blunting and relatively easy sharpening. For a long time, 440C steel was considered the standard for quality stainless steel for knives and is considered one of the most balanced knife steels in terms of its properties. Steel is quite common throughout the world and has a well-deserved positive reputation, but it is also the most expensive of the 440 steel group. The range of hardness 440C, which goes into the production of knife blades, is 58-60 HRC.

Analogs: Russia 95X18 and 110X18Sh, Austria N690, Germany X105CrMo17, France Z100CD17, Japan AUS-10.

154CM- high-carbon corrosion-resistant bearing steel of the highest grade developed by Crucible Materials Corporation (USA) for use in the aerospace industry. In the 70s of the XX century, due to its characteristics, steel was used in the United States for the manufacture of knife blades.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) 1.05%, Chromium (Cr) 14.0%, Manganese (Mn) 0.5%, Molybdenum (Mo) 0.4%, Silicon (Si) 0.30%.

At high temperatures, 154CM steel is hardened to 60 HRc and gets enough toughness to hold the cutting edge of the blade well. Knives made of this steel cut perfectly and do not dull for a long time, but at the same time, with prolonged contact with moisture or salt, rust may appear (154CM steel is somewhat less corrosion resistant than 440C grade steel).

American knife companies Pro-Tech Knives and Emerson Knives use only this steel to produce blades with a range of hardness 59-61 Hrs.

Analogues: Japan ATS-34; Sweden RWL34; Russia 110X18Sh; Germany 1.4111.

CPM 154- high-strength wear-resistant powder steel, an analogue of the popular high-carbon corrosion-resistant bearing steel 154CM. Produced since the late 90s for the knife industry by the American metallurgical company Crucible Materials Corporation (USA). CPM 154 is easier to grind and machine, with greater strength and wear resistance than conventional 154CM.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.05%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 4.00%.

Also CPM 154, compared to 440C steel, offers greater corrosion resistance, hardness and strength. It retains the sharpness of the cutting edge better and is resistant to chipping (chipping) under heavy operating loads.

Operating range of hardness 55-62 HRs. For knives, hardening is used in 59-62 HRs.

CPM 154 is an excellent, easy-sharpening working steel in a price range equal to CPM S30V and CPM S35V powder steels. According to Mick Strider(Mick Strider) and Duane Dwyer and (Duane Dwyer) from Strider Knives, between the performance and properties of blades made of steels CPM 154, CPM S30V and CPM S35V, you can safely put an equal sign.

Analogues: Sweden RWL-34, USA BG-42

CPM3V- high-strength wear-resistant tool powder steel by the American metallurgical company "Crucible Materials Corporation" (USA). CPM 3V steel is designed to provide maximum tool resistance to fracture and chipping (chipping), as well as high wear resistance of the RR.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.80%, Chromium (Cr) - 7.50%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.30%, Vanadium (V) - 2.60%, Silicon (Si) - 0.90% , Manganese (Mn) - 0.40%.

In terms of impact strength, CPM 3V surpasses steels such as A2, D2, Cru-Wear, CPM M4 and perfectly holds power and cutting loads. Powder steel CPM 3V is intended for use in the production of blades in the range of hardness 58-60 HRc. With greater hardening, there is a possibility of chips or breakage during operation. Thus, the American knife company Bark River hardens its high-strength fixed blades with blades made of CPM 3V steel for 59 HRC.

CPM 3V is one of the most mechanically strong and tough steels. Excellent balance of hardness, wear resistance and strength.

Analogues: no

CPM M4- tool high-speed powder steel, produced by the American metallurgical company Crucible Materials Corporation (USA). For CPM M4 characterized by a high content of vanadium. Crucible Particle Metallurgy technology is used in the production of this steel, providing better uniformity and high strength. The average hardening range is 61-65 HRs.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.42%, Chromium (Cr) - 4.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 5.25%, Vanadium (V) - 4.00%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.30% , Silicon (Si) - 0.25%.

The presence of chromium in CPM M4 gives the alloy anti-corrosion properties and increases its wear resistance. Molybdenum prevents brittleness and brittleness of steel, giving the necessary rigidity. Vanadium is responsible for elasticity and enhances the properties of chromium, gives steel resistance to aggressive chemical environments.

Blades of steel CPM M4 require careful maintenance after operation or must have an anti-corrosion coating, because this steel belongs to the "semi-stainless steel" type.

Analogs: no.

CPM20CV(Duratech CV20) is a high-alloy martensitic stainless powder steel produced by the American metallurgical company Crucible Industries LLC (USA). CPM 20CV is formulated with a high proportion of vanadium carbides for exceptional wear resistance and the highest chromium content of any of today's stainless steels. The best characteristics of the CPM 20CV appear at 58 HRs. The average hardening range is 56-59 HRs

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.90%, Chromium (Cr) - 20.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.00%, Vanadium (V) - 4.00%, Tungsten (W) - 0.60% .

CPM 20CV steel, when hardened to 58 HRc, is the most balanced in strength, wear and corrosion resistance than steels CPM 9V, CPM Rex M4, 440C and 420. Process CPM results in a finer and more even distribution of carbides resulting in improved toughness and ease of machining/sharpening of high alloy steels.

When hardening CPM 20CV to 61-63 HRc in the production of knife blades, the resistance of the RK to loads is significantly increased and the ease of sharpening the blade is reduced.

CPM 20CV steel is used in the production of top serial and author's (custom) knives. CPM 20CV became the prototype of the Austrian M390 steel, popular in the Russian Federation.

Analogues: USA - CPM S90V, CTS-204P; Austria M390.

CPM S30V(CPM S30V) - powder martensitic (high-carbon) stainless steel of the Crucible Materials Corporation (USA), since the 70s of the XX century, has been producing a family of powder steels CPM (Crucible Particle Metallurgy process): CPM S30V, CPM S60V, CPM S90V.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.45%, Chromium (Cr) - 14%, Vanadium (V) - 4%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 2%.

The presence of a larger amount of vanadium carbides in the chemical composition of steel significantly increases the cutting and strength properties of knife blades.

A blade made of S30V steel has four times the fracture strength of 440C steel and 3.5 times that of 154CM steel. This makes the cutting edge highly resistant to chipping and chipping, making it an excellent material for blades. In terms of the ability to keep sharpening (wear resistance), S30V steel surpasses 440C by 45%, and 154CM by 30%. According to Buck Knives, S30V is "the best blade steel available."

S30V blades are used by almost all leading knife manufacturers: Buck, Spyderco, Zero Tolerance, Emerson, Strider Kives, Cold Steel, Chris Reeve and others. It can be safely called the "gold standard" for serial and piece knives of the middle and highest class. Most manufacturers process it to a hardness of 5 8-60 Hrc.

In terms of its properties, S30V is one of the most balanced steels in comparison with modern D2, 440C and 154CM. It has excellent cutting properties, high corrosion resistance, impact strength, ability to keep sharpening long time and quickly restore it when editing.

CPM S35VN- martensitic powder stainless steel, produced by the American metallurgical company Crucible Industries (USA), is an improved version of CPMS30V steel in terms of impact strength. The powder steel manufacturing process produces a very homogeneous, high quality steel, which is characterized by superior stability, uniformity and rigidity compared to steels in traditional heat production. A well-known knife designer took part in the development of this steel Chris Reeve(Chris Reeve) from South Africa (South Africa).

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.40%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.00%, Niobium (Nb) - 0.50%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 2.00%, Vanadium (V) - 3.00% .

The presence of niobium carbides in S35VN allow to increase the strength properties of the blade in terms of hardness by 15-20% compared to CPM S30V steel. improved steel CPMS35VN It is more resistant to chipping of RK in the process of work and holds an edge better than conventional high chromium steels such as 440C and D2.

Such global knife manufacturers as MicroTech, Bark River, Chris Reeve, Spyderco and others make their blades from powdered steel. S35VN.

Blades made of steel S35VN are easily sharpened. Blade hardness range is 58-61 Hrc.

CPM S90V (420V)- martensitic stainless powder steel with vanadium and carbon for exceptionally high wear resistance. Produced by the American metallurgical company Crucible Industries LLC (USA).

The high content of vanadium in CPM-S90V contributes to the formation of hard vanadium carbides instead of chromium carbides for the highest wear resistance of RK (especially in comparison with 440C and D2 tool steels). And the presence of free chromium provides high resistance to corrosion, better than steel 440C. The average hardening range is 56-59 HRs.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 2.30%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.00%, Vanadium (V) - 9.00%.

Sharpening steel blades CPM-S90V will be harder than blades made of 440C or D2 steel and comparable to sharpening blades made of CPM S60V and CPM S110V steel.

Premium steel CPM-S90V used in the production of exclusive, author's and, less commonly, serial knives.

Analogues: USA - CPM S60V, -S110V; Austria -N690.

CPM-S110V- high-alloy martensitic stainless tool powder steel produced by the American metallurgical company Crucible Industries LLC (USA). S110V steel is characterized by an extremely fine and uniform microstructure of the carbides it contains. The average hardening range is 61-63 HRs.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 2.80%, Chromium (Cr) - 15.25%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 2.25%, Vanadium (V) - 9.00%, Niobium (Nb) - 3.00% .

CPM S110V combines high carbon content with high amounts of chromium, vanadium and niobium. This steel composition provides exceptional wear resistance of RK and high resistance to corrosion (higher than 440C and CPM S90V).

Sharpening blades made of CPM S110V steel will be more difficult than blades made of 440C (D2) steel and comparable to sharpening blades made of CPM S90V steel.

Premium steel CPM S110V is used in the production of the most expensive, author's and, extremely rarely, serial knives.

Analogues: USA - CPM S90V.

CPM-S125V- high-alloy martensitic stainless tool powder steel produced by the American metallurgical company Crucible Industries LLC (USA). S125V is a very difficult steel to manufacture. Before heat treatment, the steel is plated with a thin layer (0.010" - 0.25") of 304 stainless steel. The average hardening range is 61-63 HRc.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 3.30%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 2.50%, Vanadium (V) - 11.85%, Cobalt (Co) - 0.25% , Nickel (Ni) - 0.20%.

CPM S125V steel is optimally balanced and ductile for the production of top knife blades. The composition of this steel contains a large amount of carbon and vanadium, unlike most other stainless powder steels, which provides exceptionally high wear resistance of RK and complete resistance to corrosion.
Sharpening blades made of CPM S125V steel is much more difficult than blades made of other powder steels. Premium steel CPM S125V is used in the production of the most expensive, limited edition and custom knives.

Analogs (conditionally): USA - CPM S90V, CTS-204P, CPM-20CV; Austria M390.

CPM CRU-WEAR- highly wear-resistant and high-strength air-hardened powder tool steel produced by the American metallurgical company Crucible Industries LLC (USA). Steel CRU-WEAR easily machined in the unhardened state (similar to D2 tool steel) and exhibits minimal change in structure and properties upon further hardening. The average hardening range is 61-65 HRs.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.10%, Chromium (Cr) - 7.50%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.60%, Vanadium (V) - 2.40%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.35% , Silicon (Si) - 1.10%, Tungsten (W) - 1.15%.

Steel CRU-WEAR not It has completely resistant to corrosion and requires some maintenance. During conventional heat treatment, steel CRU-WEAR compatible with a wide range of surface coatings such as nitriding, tin, titanium nitride (CVD TiN), DLC and recommended for other protective coatings.

CRU-WEAR used in applications that require higher wear resistance than D2 steel and higher toughness than M2 steel, or in tools where both are required.

The combination of wear resistance, incl. RK, high resistance to deformation and exceptional strength make the steel CRU-WEAR An excellent choice for making tactical blades and a wide range of professional tools.

Analogues (conditionally): USA CTS-XHP, CTS-PD1; Japan ZDP-189.

A-2- American tool carbon steel with a high content of chromium and molybdenum. The main use of steel is in the production of dies, punches (the main part of dies) and rollers (the working part of forging, crushing machines). Also, A-2 steel has found wide application in the manufacture of blades.

Steel composition: Carbon(C) 1.00%, Manganese(Mn) 0.80%, Silicon(S)i 0.30%, Chromium(Cr) 5.25%, Molybdenum(Mo) 1.10%, Vanadium(V) 0.20%.

The excellent cutting properties of A-2 steel are widely used by woodworking professionals. When properly hardened and machined, A-2 steel offers the best combination of edge retention and ease of sharpening. This steel has proven itself in the production of tactical, hunting and other knives. The hardness range of finished blades is 59-60 Hrc.

The American company Bark River Knives makes blades for its popular and sought-after knives from this steel.

Analogues: Russia - 95X5GM; Germany - X100CrMoV5.1; Japan - SKD-12; Sweden - UDDEHOLM AG - Rigor.

D2- "semi-stainless" alloyed tool steel made in the USA. D2 steel is often used to make high speed cutters. Despite not 100 percent resistance to corrosion, this indicator significantly exceeds any carbon steels.

Steel composition: Carbon(C) 1.50%, Manganese(Mn) 0.60%, Silicon(S)i 0.60%, Chromium(Cr) 12.00%, Molybdenum(Mo) 1.00%, Vanadium(V) 1.10%, Nickel(Ni) 0.30%.

Steel has high strength, which allows for a long time to maintain the sharpness of the cutting edge. The range of hardness of steel used in the production of knife blades is 57-61 HRC.

Analogues: Germany 1.2379(X155CrVMo12-1), Russia X12MF; Japan SLD; Sweden SKD-11; Germany Х155CrMo12.1.

H-1- austenitic and non-magnetic super stainless chromium-nickel steel produced by the Japanese metallurgical company Myodo Metals (Japan). N-1 steel is characterized by extremely high resistance to aggressive environments. The average hardening range is 58-60 HRs.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.12%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.20%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.00%, Manganese (Mn) - 1.00%, Nickel (Ni) - 6.80% .

Blades of steel H-1 have high cutting properties and the ability to keep the sharpness of the RK for a long time, while it is softer than AUS8 and 154CM steels. Belongs to the high end class.

Steel H-1 is quite difficult to process, therefore it is used relatively rarely, most often in the production of professional knives intended for use in aggressive environments with high corrosive activity: in sea ​​water, in areas with high humidity (tropical forests, swamps). Steel H-1 used by Spyderco in the production of diving knives.

Blades of steel H-1 easily sharpened.

Analogues: Japan - AUS-8A.

12C27 (Sandvic 12C27)- Corrosion-resistant martensitic chromium knife steel of the Swedish company Sandvic AB (Sweden), produced since the 60s of the XX century. It has a low content of impurities - sulfur and phosphorus.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.60%, Chromium (Cr) - 13.5%, Silicon (Si) - 0.40%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.40%.

It is the most balanced steel used in the manufacture of fishing and hunting, tourist, pocket, tactical knives, as well as high-class kitchen knives.
Knives made of such steel have excellent cutting edge retention characteristics, high hardness, strength and corrosion resistance. For 50 years, 12C27 steel has been constantly improved, due to which it currently has the highest performance data in terms of the strength of the steel structure and the level of purity of materials. Manufactured in hardness ranges 55-57 Hrc.

8Cr13MoV- high carbon medium chromium stainless steel with the addition of molybdenum and vanadium. One of the best steels produced in China (China).

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.80%, Chromium (Cr) - 13%, Silicon (Si) - 0.50%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.40%, Vanadium (V) - 0.10% , Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.5%, Nickel (Ni) - 0.25%.

In its composition and properties it is close to Japanese steel AUS-8 (AUS-8A) .
Blades made of such steel have long-term preservation of the cutting edge and good corrosion resistance. Steel hardness 56-58 Hrs. Steel 8Cr13MoV has an excellent balance in the ratio of strength, cutting and anti-corrosion properties. Great for touring and urban EDC knives with good average performance. In the US, 8Cr13MoV steel is widely used by the knife companies SOG and Kershaw Knives.

Analogues: USA steel 440C; Japan AUS-8(AUS-8A); RF 95X18.

8Cr14MoV- high carbon chromium stainless steel. One of the best steels produced in China (China). An analogue of 8Cr13MoV steel with great mechanical and stainless properties (more chromium).

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.80%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.50%, Silicon (Si) - 1.00%, Manganese (Mn) - 1.00%, Vanadium (V) - 0, 20%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 0.2%.

Blades made of such steel have long-term preservation of the sharpness of the cutting edge and good corrosion resistance. Steel hardness range 56-58 HRs. Steel 8Cr14MoV has an excellent balance in the ratio of strength, cutting and anti-corrosion properties. Great for touring and urban EDC knives with good average performance.

Analogues: USA 440C; Japan AUS-8(AUS-8A); RF 95X18 and 75X14MF; Sweden 12C27 and 13C26; Germany Х55CrMo14.

AUS-8 (AUS-8 A) - corrosion-resistant steel manufactured by Aichi Steel Works (Japan).

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.80%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.5%, Silicon (Si) - 0.60%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.40%, Vanadium (V) - 0, 30%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.1%.

Along with AUS-6, AUS-8 is one of the most widely used Japanese stainless steels by knife makers around the world. Blades made of such steel have an optimal ratio of flexibility and hardness in 56-59 Hrs. They are characterized by excellent cutting properties, mechanical endurance, high workmanship, corrosion resistance and relatively low price. Knives with AUS-8 blades do not require frequent sharpening and are suitable for most brands of abrasives and improvised tools that do not require special skills.
Steel AUS-8A is made for the American company Cold Steel and differs from AUS-8 in a slightly higher carbon content (1%). According to its consumer properties, this is one and the same steel.

Analogues: USA steel 440C; Japan AUS-8(AUS-8A); Sweden AEB-L; China 8Cr13MoV; RF 75X16MF and 95X18.

ATS-34- High carbon, chromium, air-hardened stainless bearing steel with a high degree of corrosion resistance. Produced since the late 80s by the Japanese metallurgical company Hitachi Metals (Japan). It is used in the production of expensive serial and custom knives.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.05%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 4.00%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.40%, Silicon (Si) - 0.35% .

ATS-34 is the highest quality top grade steel that holds a PK edge very well, is strong and highly resistant to mechanical chipping. One of the best stainless steels. In addition to making blades, ATS-34 steel is widely used in the manufacture of razor blades, jet turbine blades and metalworking tools.
In my own way chemical composition ATS-34 steel is very close to American 154CM steel from Crucible Materials Corporation.
Operating range of hardness 59-61 HRs.

Analogues: Sweden RWL-34, USA 154CM, S60V, BG-42, Japan VG-10, GIN1(G-2); Russia 100X15M.

RWL-34- martensitic, stainless, alloyed powder steel produced by a Swedish steel company Damasteel since the 70s of the XX century. RWL-34 steel is named after Robert W Loveless(1929 - 2010) - world famous American innovator and knife manufacturer.
RWL-34 steel is a powdered version of Japanese ball bearing steel ATS-34. RWL-34 is valued among knife makers for its ease of processing with mirror polishing capability and availability among other powder steels. The total hardening range is 59-62 HRc.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.05%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 4.00%, Vanadium (V) - 0.20%, Cobalt (Si) - 0.50% , Nickel (Mn) - 0.50%.

RWL-34 is characterized by very high strength and toughness, combined with extreme sharpness and RK resistance that is easy to maintain. Steel is also distinguished by good corrosion resistance and operational mechanical properties.

Analogs: USA - 154CM, CPM154; Japan - ATS-34; Russia 100X15M; Germany X100CrMoV15 and 1.4111.

VG-10(V-Gold #10) was developed by Takefu Special Steel Co., Ltd. (Japan). It is a high-carbon and corrosion-resistant steel alloyed with cobalt and molybdenum.

Steel composition: Carbon(C) 0.95-1.05%; Chromium(Cr) 14.50-15.50%; Cobalt (Co) 1.30-1.50%; Vanadium(V) 0.50%; Molybdenum (Mo) 0.90-1.20%.

The toughness of this steel allows hardening to hardness 60-63 Hrs while maintaining optimum cutting edge properties. Distinctive feature VG-10 is the use of cobalt in its composition, an expensive and rare alloying additive in alloys, which gives the steel more hardness and toughness. Steel VG-10 in the production of knives is used by many of the world's leading brands. In Japan, blades are made from this steel by Mcusta, Mikadzo, Tojiro, Kasumi, and others. Spyderco, Cold Steel, SOG, Camillus, FALLKNIVEN, Browning, and others, not only make blades from VG-10, but many of them fully accommodate production of their knives in Japan.

For knives with blades made of VG-10, very high resistance to corrosion is characteristic (practically do not rust). When sharpened, they are easily brought out “into a razor”, they are not as fragile as “bearing” steels and, compared to other blade alloys, keep sharpening for the main phase of working use, which occurs after the loss of the first, “factory”, sharpening, and ends much longer. when it becomes necessary to sharpen a dull knife.

13C26 (Sandvic 13C26)- Corrosion-resistant martensitic chromium knife steel from Sandvic AB (Sweden), the production of which began in the 60s of the XX century. This steel is characterized by a low content of phosphorus and sulfur in it.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.65%, Chromium (Cr) - 13%, Silicon (Si) - 0.40%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.65%.

It is the most balanced steel used in the manufacture of hunting, outdoor, pocket, urban EDC, tactical knives, as well as high-end kitchen knives.
Blades made of 13C26 Sandvic steel have excellent edge retention properties, high hardness, toughness and corrosion resistance. Manufactured by the manufacturer in the hardness ranges 54-61 Hrc.

Analogues: USA steel 420 and 440A; Germany 1.4034/1.4037; RF 65X13.

ELMAX- chromium-molybdenum-vanadium powder stainless tool steel produced by Böhler-Uddeholm (Sweden-Austria). Initially, steel was intended for the manufacture of cutting elements of machine tools processing plastics of various composition and properties. It is distinguished by very high corrosion resistance, long-term sharpness of the cutting edge, ease of sharpening and significant strength - all this has found its application in the manufacture of knife blades by various manufacturers. The hardness range of ELMAX steel blades is 58-62 Hrc.

Steel composition: Carbon(C) 1.7%, Silicon(Si) 0.8%, Manganese(Mn) 0.3%, Chromium(Cr) 18.0%, Molybdenum(Mo) 1.0%, Vanadium( V) 3.0%.

ELMAX steel has the best price-quality ratio and outperforms similar S30V and RWL34 steels in terms of production cost without reducing the consumer properties of the blades.

The composition of ELMAX steel is very similar to the 440C steel used in the manufacture of knives. The difference lies in the presence of vanadium in the composition. Steel holds various sharpening angles well, grinds well, but does not tolerate shock loads and lateral fracture loads.

The blade made of ELMAX steel is an excellent solution for a universal knife. It is used for the production of knives of medium and higher classes.

NIOLOX (1.4153.03 Stainless Steel (SB1 steel))- alloyed stainless steel produced by the German steel company Lohmann (German). The average hardening range is 58-63 HRs. Steel NIOLOX has a fine-grained and homogeneous structure.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.80%, Chromium (Cr) - 12.70%, Niobium (Nb) - 0.70%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.10%, Vanadium (V) - 1.10% .

The presence of carbon in NIOLOX increases its strength, gives the metal high hardness. Chromium affects the methods of hardening steel, gives the alloy anti-corrosion properties and increases its wear resistance. Molybdenum prevents brittleness and brittleness of steel, giving the necessary rigidity. Vanadium is responsible for elasticity and enhances the properties of chromium, gives steel resistance to aggressive chemical environments. The presence of Niobium gives the alloy high anti-corrosion properties while maintaining ductility, excellent resistance to chipping and chipping, and allows for a long time to maintain the sharpness of the cutting edge.

For high performance steel blades NIOLOX characteristic is the retention of the sharpness of the RK for a long time - on the same level with such stainless American steels as 154CM or D2. Knife blades from NIOLOX easy to sharpen to razor sharpness.

M390- premium martensitic chromium powder steel produced by an Austrian steel company Bohler-Uddeholm(Austria). The unique powder metallurgical manufacturing process promotes uniform distribution of carbides in all chemical elements become. M390 steel is widely used in medical and surgical instruments, in industry for the production of various machine tools that perform complex drilling processes in hard materials. The average hardening range is 58-62 HRs.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.90%, Chromium (Cr) - 20.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.00%, Vanadium (V) - 4.00%, Silicon (Si) - 0.70% , Manganese (Mn) - 0.30%, Tungsten (W) - 0.60%.

Knife blades made of M390 steel have increased corrosion resistance, super high performance, excellent cutting ability and wear resistance due to the very high content of vanadium and chromium carbides. The M390, along with the CPM 30V-35VN, Elmax and Vanax 35 represent the gold standard for medium to high end utility knives.

Analogs: USA - Duratech 20CV (CPM 20CV), CTS-XHP, CTS 204P.

CTSBD1- stainless chromium steel "above average" grade, produced by an American steel company Carpenter CTS(USA). Manufactured by vacuum melting. Steel contains special additives that provide best properties retention of sharpness of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The average hardening range is 58-60 HRs.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.90%, Chromium (Cr) - 15.75%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 0.30%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.60%, Silicon (Si) - 0.37% , Vanadium(V) - 0.10%.

Blades of steel CTSBD1 hold sharpening better than AUS8 and 8Cr13MoV. And due to the higher chromium content, it copes better with corrosion.

Steel CTSBD1 created specifically for the manufacture of knife blades at the request of the company Spyderco.

Plastic CTSBD1 very easy to sharpen / bring to razor sharpness. Works great on kitchen knives.

Analogues: Japan - Hitachi Gin-1, AUS8; China - 8Cr13MoV.

CTS-XHP- premium chromium high carbon powder stainless steel produced by an American steel company Carpenter CTS(USA). The unique powder metallurgical air-hardened manufacturing process results in improved alloy purity and strength compared to 440C and D2 steels. CTS-XHP steel is characterized by high hardness and excellent corrosion resistance of the metal (several times superior to S30V steel).

Steel composition: Carbon(C) - 1.60%, Chromium(Cr) - 16.00%, Molybdenum(Mo) - 0.80%, Vanadium(V) - 0.45%, Silicon(Si) - 0.40%, Manganese(Mn) - 0.50%, Nickel (Ni) - 0.35%.

The high rates of maintaining the efficiency of the RC, ease of machining and corrosion resistance of Carpenter CTS-XHP steel provide its widest application in industrial production, incl. in the production of kitchen, hunting and EDC knives, razors, surgical instruments, scissors, etc. Optimum hardness of hardening 60-64 HRC. CTS-XHP, like CTS-204P, is one of the most expensive steels.

Analogues: USA - 440XH, CPM D2.

CTS-204P- premium chromium martensitic powder steel produced by an American steel company Carpenter CTS(USA). The unique air-quenched powder metallurgy manufacturing process results in improved alloy purity and strength compared to conventional cast and forged steels. CTS 204P steel has a balanced, homogeneous microstructure and a uniform distribution of carbides, which, combined with a high chromium content, allows for very high wear resistance, strength and corrosion resistance.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.90%, Chromium (Cr) - 20.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.00%, Vanadium (V) - 4.00%, Silicon (Si) - 0.60% , Manganese (Mn) - 0.35%.

The high performance and ease of processing (polishing) of Carpenter CTS 204P steel make it possible to use it in the production of high-performance industrial and custom knives, as well as in equipping equipment for the food industry. Hardness range 61-63 HRC.

Steel CTS-204P, like CTS-XHP, is one of the most expensive, which is reflected in the final cost of knives for consumers.

Analogues: Austria - M390.

ZDP- 189 - powder tool super-steel with a high content of chromium and carbon. Produced since 1996 for the knife industry by the Japanese metallurgical company Hitachi Metals (Japan) based on the technology of amorphous metal alloys. It belongs to the most balanced high-carbon steels in terms of structure. ZDP-189 steel is characterized by impact resistance and high corrosion resistance.

Steel composition: Carbon(C) - 2.90-3.00%, Chromium(Cr) - 19.00-20.50%, Molybdenum(Mo) - 0.90-1.0%, Vanadium(V) - 0.25-0.35%, Silicon(Si) - 0.35%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.50%, Tungsten (W) - 0.60%.

Some knife makers harden their ZDP-189 blades to 69 HRc. With such hardness, large impact and mechanical loads should be avoided.

Analogues: no

Bohler N690Co- cobalt-alloyed stainless martensitic steel produced by the Austrian steel company Bohler-Uddeholm (Austria). The average hardening range is up to 60 HRs. Steel N690Co has a smooth homogeneous structure due to double longitudinal-transverse rolling.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.06%, Chromium (Cr) - 17.00%, Cobalt (Co) - 1.55%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.00%, Vanadium (V) - 0.10% , Manganese (Mn) - 0.40%, Silicon (Si) - 0.40%.

The presence of cobalt in N690Co increases its strength and gives the metal high hardness. Chromium affects the methods of hardening steel, gives the alloy anti-corrosion properties and increases its wear resistance. Molybdenum prevents brittleness and brittleness of steel, giving the necessary rigidity. Vanadium is responsible for elasticity and enhances the properties of chromium, gives steel resistance to aggressive chemical environments.

For steel N690Co characterized by high anti-corrosion properties with the preservation of plasticity, excellent resistance to side and impact loads, as well as maintaining the sharpness of the cutting edge for a long time. N690Co sharpens perfectly.

N690Co used on serial knives designed for heavy, extreme operating conditions (for example, tactics).

Analogues: USA - 440С, Japan - VG1, Sweden - Sandvic 12C27.

Bohler N695- chromium stainless steel rolled by an Austrian steel company Bohler-Uddeholm (Austria). Used to make balls, rollers, needles and rings for corrosion resistant bearings. The average hardening range is 57-60 HRs.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.05%, Chromium (Cr) - 16.70%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 0.50%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.40%, Silicon (Si) - 0.40% .

Steel Bohler N695 characterized by high hardness, wear resistance for long periods of operation and excellent corrosion resistance at constant high humidity. Also steel Bohler N695 has a good ability to withstand impact and side loads for turning and breaking.

Stability and uniformity of steel Bohler N695 optimal for the manufacture of knife blades. For all performance characteristics Bohler N695 very close to American steel 440C.

Analogues: USA - 440C; Germany - X105CrMo17; Russia 95X18.

Uddeholm Sleipner- alloyed with chromium and molybdenum-vanadium universal tool steel produced by an Austrian steel company Bohler-Uddeholm (Austria). It is used for the manufacture of reliable wear-resistant industrial tools. According to its properties and characteristics Uddeholm Sleipner significantly outperforms widely used tool steels like D2 and 1.2379. The average hardening range is 60-62 HRs.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.90%, Chromium (Cr) - 7.80%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 2.50%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.50%, Vanadium (V) - 0.50% .

Steel Uddeholm Sleipner It is characterized by good mechanical wear resistance, resistance to chipping (chipping), as well as high resistance to torsion, impact and side loads. Also steel Uddeholm Sleipner it is easily sharpened (corrected) and retains the sharpness of the RK on the blade for a long time.

Hardness and mechanical strength of steel Uddeholm Sleipner allowed to use it for the manufacture of knife blades.

Analogues: USA - D2; Germany - 1.2379; Russia - 8X4V2MFS2 and 8X6NFT.

Maxamet(Micro-Melt Maxamet). American Steel Corporation Carpenter Technology developed steel Micro Melt Maxamet especially for the manufacture of rollers used in modern steel mills. This remarkable alloy has properties superior to conventional high speed tool steels and approaches the superhard materials used to machine other steels.

Company Spyderco, as one of the few companies that specializes in the innovative techniques required to machine heat treat and grind this exotic alloy, is justifiably proud to offer it in some of America's finest knives.

Damascus(Damascus steel) - composite steel with visible inhomogeneities (patterns) on the surface. Damascus obtained by repeated reforging of a steel package (wire or tape), consisting of steels with different chemical properties and carbon content.
Patterns on the surface Damascus are the result of an uneven distribution of carbon due to the heterogeneity of steels. This effect is often enhanced by special polishing and etching with acids. Initially, the pattern was not the main purpose of manufacturing damascus steel but was just a side effect.

The main and main disadvantage Damascus is its low corrosion resistance due to the high carbon content and practically total absence alloying elements.

Damascus was very popular in the ancient and middle ages. Most of the oldest Damascus blades that have survived to this day are Persian, Syrian or Indian. The most likely version is that damascus steel named because the first blade found was from the city of Damascus or the historically established center for the trade of knives and swords made of such steel.

Today Damascus no longer plays an important role in the production of knife blades due to the availability of excellent rolled, forged and powder steels. It can have a very wide temper range (HRc) and be unpredictable in use (sharpening), especially when purchased from unknown craftsmen or manufacturers.

Damascus steel is still valued for its decorative value, enduring myths and its long history.

This article discusses the main grades of steel for knives.
The most popular knife steels are described, each steel is briefly considered.

• Our new D2 knife hard test -

Imported knife steels:

1095/1080/1070/.../1050/...
Regular carbon steel used to make knives. Country of manufacture - USA. Low corrosion resistance. The number "10" at the beginning of the number indicates that this steel is specially designed for the production of knives. The last two digits in the number show the amount of carbon - respectively, the less it is, the softer the steel and the worse it keeps sharpening. The low carbon steels in this series are used in sword making where ductility is required. For knives, 1095 is usually taken. It is used in the manufacture of Ka-Bar and Cold Steel knives. Analogues - our U8, U10A.

12S27
Stainless steel, made in Sweden. The carbon content is 0.6%. Simple and high quality steel. Foreign impurities are absent. Analog - 420NS.

15N20
Tool steel. Country of origin - Sweden. Used in the manufacture of Damascus steel.

154CM
59-62HRC. High tech stainless bearing steel. Country of manufacture - USA. Analogue of ATS-34. High rigidity. One of the best steels for knives, quite expensive. Used in Spyderco and Benchmade knives.

1770SS / 1778SS / 1870SS
SS - Sweden Standard. A series of good Swedish structural steel.

3Cr13
Stainless steel, country of origin - China. This is a modification of 440A steel, hardened to 57 HRC. It is used in the production of mid-range knives.
Also goes to the manufacture of axes.

3G
Composite powder steel for knives. Country of manufacture - Sweden. The carbon content is 1.4%. Indicators of hardness, rigidity, impact strength, wear resistance and corrosion resistance are at the highest level.

420
Carbon content 0.5%. The simplest and cheapest knife steel. High resistance to corrosion. Soft, does not hold sharpening well, but sharpens without problems. Scope - cheap China and various kitchen knives. Analogue - Japanese AUS-4.
If a cheap knife has an inscription like “Stainless”, “Inox”, “Super-steel”, etc., then this is most likely 420 steel.

420J2
Japanese stainless steel, cheap, usually used in composite alloys, easy to process. Weak wear resistance. It is used in inexpensive knives produced in the vast expanses of Southeast Asia. To compensate for the softness of the 420th steel, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the blade.

420HC
High carbon blade steel. Easy to work, anti-corrosion, medium strength but good edge retention. Fairly low cost. Greatest Application found from Buck, and the 420HC from Buck is significantly superior to the 420HC of other knifemakers. This is achieved by ongoing cryogenic treatment. Analogue - Swedish 12С27.

440A
56HRC. Stainless steel. The carbon content is 0.75%. Resists corrosion well. High-quality alloy, well withstands loads. Widely used in SOG knives. If the blade is marked "440" or "440 Series Stainless", then it is most likely 440A.

440V
58HRC. Carbon content 0.9%. resists corrosion well. High-quality alloy, well withstands loads. The analogue is the Japanese AUS-8. It is widely used by Randell.

440C
60HRC. High-tech stainless steel, carbon content - 1.2%. holds RK well. One of the most balanced knife steels in terms of its properties. Steel 440C is more expensive than 440A and 440B. Analog - Japanese AUS-10. It is worth noting that the 440C of Spanish knives is softer than that of other Europeans.

5160
Professional high quality spring steel. Very durable, good grip. Popular in the manufacture of knives for heavy work.

52100
Bearing steel. Low strength and corrosion resistance. But it holds an edge well. Analog - ШХ15. Widely used for the manufacture of hunting knives.

8Cr13MoV
56-58 HRC. A knife steel with a high content of carbon, chromium, vanadium and molybdenum. Country of manufacture - China. Holds an edge well and sharpens well. Used by Spyderco. Close to Japanese AUS-8.

8Cr14MoV
The same as 8Cr13MoV, but due to the increased chromium content, it is more anti-corrosive. Many Chinese replicas are made from this steel.

9Cr14MoV
Due to the higher carbon content, it is slightly harder than 8Cr13MoV. Widely used on Chinese replicas. Cuts well for knives in this price range and is easy to sharpen.

A-2
60-62HRC. American carbon self-hardening tool steel. High strength and ability to keep sharpening. Used by Chris Reeve in combat knives.

ATS-34
58-60 HRC. High tech stainless steel. Country of manufacture - Japan, Hitachi. Analogue 154CM. High rigidity. One of the best steels for knives, quite expensive. Used in Spyderco and Benchmade knives. Also used to make razor blades and jet turbine blades.

ATS-55
Unlike ATS-34, it does not contain molybdenum, therefore it is cheaper. Found at Spyderco.

AUS-4
54HRC. Rare stainless cheap steel due to low carbon content. Country of manufacture - Japan. Loses sharpness quickly, but sharpens easily. Analogue - 420th steel.

AUS-6
56HRC. Stainless steel. Country of manufacture - Japan. Analog 440A. Used by Al Mar.

AUS-8
58HRC. Stainless knife steel. Country of manufacture - Japan. Analog 440V. Widely used due to good wear resistance. Used by Cold Steel.

AUS-10
60HRC. Stainless knife steel. Country of manufacture - Japan. An analogue of the American 440C, but due to the lower chromium content, it is less corrosion resistant. Good wear resistance.

Beta-ti Alloy
titanium alloy. Diving and kitchen knives.

BG-42
60-64 HRC. Japanese stainless steel for knives. High rigidity, holds RK well. Chris Reeves uses this steel in his Sebenza knives.

Blue Paper Super
Alloy steel. Produced in Japan. Used to make professional chef's knives.

Carbon V
Steel grade owned by Cold Steel. The properties of this knife steel are similar to O-1 and 1095.

CowryX (RT-6)
63-67HRC. Amorphous metallic corrosion-resistant alloy. Country of manufacture - Japan.

CowryY (CP-4)
61-64 HRC. Amorphous metallic corrosion-resistant alloy. Country of manufacture - Japan.

CPM440V
Good stainless steel for a knife. Holds RK well, sharpens with difficulty. This steel is used by Sean McWilliams/

D-2
60-62HRC. Tool knife steel, which is also called "semi-stainless steel". More corrosion resistant than carbon steels, but not up to the properties of "stainless steel". High strength, holds sharpening well. The analogue is our X12MF. Country of manufacture - Japan. Used in the knife Bob Dozier, Benchmade. Optimal for a utility knife. Not amenable to final polishing.
Good knives from D2 are made by SteelClaw.

DAMASTEEL
Steel obtained by powder metallurgy. Not an alloy.

ELMAX
Tool steel. Widely used by Scandinavian blacksmiths.

GIN-1 (G-2)
Good stainless steel for a knife. Quite rare. Used in Spyderco knives.

H-1
58HRC. Stainless steel for knife. Excellent corrosion resistance, good cutting properties, excellent edge retention. Difficult to process. Used commonly in Spyderco knives.

INFI
Exclusive knife steel, used only by Busse.

Inox
54-57 HRC. High strength stainless steel for knives. Increased corrosion resistance. Widely used by Opinel.

QC
Alloy steel, Japan, Hitachi. Used in the manufacture of chef's knives and razors.

L-6
Steel for band saws. High strength, holds RK well.

LAK41, LAK42
Blade steel used in the manufacture of cheap kitchen knives.

M-2
61-66HRC. A high speed tool steel used in the manufacture of knives. Holds a sharp edge perfectly. Low corrosion resistance and sensitivity to shock loads. It is used for the production of cutters and drills. Used by Benchmade.

Mars 500
Stainless steel. Widely used on Swedish knives.

N690Co
58-60 HRC. The so-called "Austrian 440C". It differs from 440c in the presence of cobalt and vanadium - thanks to this, corrosion resistance and higher hardness are improved. Resistant to shock loads. Widely used in tourist knives.

O-1
60-64 HRC. Good oil-hardened carbon steel for making blades. Despite the low cost, it has good durability. Used by Randall Made Knives. Easy to forge. Rusts quickly.

Rostfree
Stainless steel, Germany.

Sandvik 12C27 - Swedish martensitic, stainless, chromium steel. Elastic and flexible steel and at the same time wear-resistant. It sharpens well even in field conditions "on the knee". Sufficiently clean for foreign impurities. Widely used in the manufacture of Helle knives.

S-Star
Inexpensive stainless steel, goes to the manufacture of kitchen knives.

S30V (CPM S30V/S60V/S90V)
Stainless martensitic powder steel for knives. Designed by Chris Reeve and Dick Barber. High strength. Used by many knife manufacturers. High corrosion resistance and impact strength. All of this family of steels hold a sharp edge well, especially S60V and S90V. But they are more fragile than S30V and harder to sharpen. These steels are optimal for utility knives. Another name for these steels is "metallic glass". Widely used by Leatherman and Zero Tolerance.
S30V - 58-61HRC

S60V - 55-57HRC
S90V - 56-59HRC
And more from this line:
CPM-S110V
CPM-S125V
CPM 1V - 57-59HRC
CPM 3V - 58-60 HRC
CPM 9V - 54-56HRC
CPM 10V - 60HRC
CPM 15V - 61-63HRC
CPM M4 - 60-64 HRC - special high speed tool steel
CPM D2- 60-62HRC

Silver 1,3,5
Japanese stainless steel grade. Used in the manufacture of kitchen knives and scissors.

SG2
64HRC

SRK-8
Tool Japanese steel. Typically used for making agricultural tools.

Stellite 6K
42-46HRC

T508, T113
French steel.

Talonite
44-49HRC

Vascower
Very rare steel due to the complexity of processing. Excellent wear resistance

VG-10
59-61 HRC. Japanese knife steel. Sharpening keeps medium. High corrosion resistance. Well handled. How rule goes for the manufacture of chef's knives.

W1 W2
Carbon steel, used to make files

YXR7
61-65HRC

ZDP-189
Top quality powder coated steel. Country of manufacture - Japan, Hitachi. This steel has no analogues yet. Used in premium knives. High price. Very difficult to sharpen. Ideal for knives that are designed exclusively for their main function - for cutting.

Domestic steels for knives:

100X13M
Chrome molybdenum steel. It is used in the manufacture of medical instruments.

30HGSA
Another name is "chromansil". High quality medium alloy steel. Created by Soviet scientists in the 40s of the 20th century for the needs of aviation. Withstands high alternating load. Excellent toughness. Fairly easy to heat treat. Ideal for throwing ax knives.

40X13/65X13/95X18/110X18
Domestic analogues of steels 420 and 440. The most widely used in the manufacture of blades is 95X18. Sufficiently strong and flexible, lends itself well and keeps sharpening. Corrosion resistant.
40X13 - 53 HRC,
95X18 - 57-60 HRC
65X13 - surgical (medical) steel. Our "Kizlyar" also produces knives from it.

65G
Structural spring steel. It rusts quickly, does not hold RK well. But excellent toughness. Ideal for cutting knives.

R6M5
High speed steel. It is used for the manufacture of mechanical saw blades. Holds a sharp edge well but is brittle. Low corrosion resistance.

U7-U16
Domestic tool steel used in the manufacture of knives. U7-U9 - high-viscosity steels, knives from these steels can be safely chopped. U10-U13 - steels of increased hardness, are afraid of shock loads. All these steels hold sharpening well. Corrosion resistant, corrosion penetrates deep into the blade.

X12MF
Alloy die tool steel used in the manufacture of knives. Good corrosion resistance with careful polishing of the blade. Holds a sharp edge very well. Impact resistance is medium.

XB5
65-67 HRC. "Diamond Steel". The highest hardness among tool steels.

ShKh15
Structural bearing steel used in the manufacture of knives. Holds a sharp edge well. Corrosion resistant, surface rusting. Analog - 52100.

Steel D2

D2 Die Tool Steel Accepted Kizlyar Supreme is unrivaled by the highest level of wear resistance in its class.

D2 belongs to the premium segment, is used in expensive products from US and Japanese manufacturers and is one of the most fashionable steels among the expert community of knife lovers.

used in knives Kizlyar Supreme D2 steel is a high carbon and high chromium (gives corrosion resistance) die steel with high resistance to wear, compression loads and abrasion, it is hardened in the range of 55-68 HRC, but Kizlyar Supreme sets the hardness to 61-63 Rockwell, which is considered optimal for maintaining high cutting properties.

Steel is considered "half-stainless". has good stainless qualities, but still does not reach the level of "stainless". Therefore, it is recommended to wipe it after each contact with an aggressive environment, and sometimes cover it with an anti-corrosion material. It has satisfactory strength.

Die steels include steels with a carbon and impurity composition that is suitable for the manufacture of dies, that is, they have high hardness, wear resistance, cutting edge retention, and resistance to deformation at high temperatures.

There are quite a few die steels and the choice depends on the task at hand, for example, whether a sharp cutting edge is needed or whether high shock and peak loads are to be maintained.

There are many examples of the use of die steels - they are used to make molds, i.e. molds for punching parts from various materials, up to punching metal parts from steel sheets. In addition, industrial axes and cutters are made from die steels, which must cut and cut almost endlessly and non-stop. Another example of use is car tire shredders.

Die steels must withstand high loads and be very wear resistant, and often they must also withstand high operating temperatures, such as those used Kizlyar Supreme D2 die steel works stably at temperatures up to 400 degrees Celsius.

Typical composition of D2 steel in knives Kizlyar Supreme:

C: 1.55 - Carbon. Present in all knife steels, the most important element in heat treatment. Increases toughness and sharpness retention of the cutting edge, improves wear resistance.
Si: 0.3 - Silicon. Improves elasticity and also deoxidizes and degasifies cast steel.
Mn: 0.4 - Manganese. An important element that improves the grain structure and promotes hardening. It also improves resistance to force and wear. Improves steel, deoxidizes and degasifies it during the manufacturing process.
Cr: 11.8 - Chrome. It is added to increase wear resistance, hardness, toughness and most importantly corrosion resistance. Steel is considered "stainless" if it contains at least 13% chromium. Despite this classification, steel can corrode if misused. Adding chromium to large quantities reduces hardness, so a delicate balance must be struck to achieve the desired corrosion resistance and other indicators such as hardness.
Mo: 0.8 - Molybdenum. Carbide-forming, prevents brittleness and maintains the resistance of steel at high temperatures. Improves steel machinability and corrosion resistance.
V: 0.8 - Vanadium. It improves hardenability and, as it belongs to carbide-forming (actually, vanadium carbides are the hardest carbides), it increases wear resistance. It also improves the graininess of the steel, increasing hardness and allowing the blade to form a very sharp cutting edge.

Some physical characteristics of D2 steel in blades Kizlyar Supreme, hardened to 62 Rockwell units at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius:
Density: 7,700 kg/m3
Thermal Conductivity (w/m degree Celsius): 20.00
Elasticity coefficient: 210,000 MPa

Compression strength:
62HRC - 2200 MPa
60HRC - 2150 MPa
56HRC - 1950 MPa
52HRC - 1750 MPa

The most important thing in the manufacture of steel is its heat treatment. Steel D2 Kizlyar Supreme first heated to about 850-870 degrees Celsius, then cooled in the oven at 10 degrees per hour to 650 degrees, then in air in free mode. After machining, the blade is hardened again to about 650 degrees, held for 2 hours and then slowly cooled to 500 degrees, after which the steel cools in free mode. The subsequent heat treatment steps are a trade secret.

Please keep in mind that all steels with high hardness and thin cutting edges can be subject to chipping under mechanical stress, especially shock, i.e. small pieces may break off from the cutting edge. To prevent this from happening, we advise you not to use knives with a thin cutting edge for striking and chopping. Often, therefore, the cutting edge of high-hard blades of famous manufacturers is not sharpened very finely. If you understand knives and understand that the task of a knife is to cut, and you need to chop with differently sharpened thick axes made of softer steels, then we can advise you to slightly sharpen the cutting edge to razor sharpness, as many knife experts and experienced knife lovers do.

WARNING: This material has been produced by Kizlyar Supreme experts and is protected by copyright and intellectual property laws. Any copying of any part of the material is allowed only with the written permission of Kizlyar Supreme and with a mandatory link to the site www.kizlyarsupreme.com. Violators will be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the United States, the European Union, Russian Federation and members of the CIS.

Russia has a rather high own base of developments in metallurgy in all industries and directions. But despite the existing brand, which includes more than 5,000 thousand names, an analogue with a foreign name takes root. This often comes from the fact that the name of the brand is associated with some well-known product that determines the exact properties, for example, the characteristics of D2 steel indicate the purpose of this brand for the manufacture of hunting, tourist, and less often household knives.

Technical features of steel D2

The D2 brand is an American marking that is also used by us, indicating the exact use. The existing Russian analogue is Kh12MF steel. Both in chemical composition and mechanical properties, these grades are similar. There is only a difference in the range of components used. But more properties depend on thermal processing.

In its own country, this brand has become very famous, it is used by many companies for their products: cutting tools for equipment, knives. She is in demand thanks to:

• low cost;
• good machinability;
• sharpening resistance;
• high cutting characteristics;
• corrosion resistance;
• uniformity of the structure after hardening.

Steel d2 for knives

Before characterizing this steel from an industrial point of view, consider the features of hunting knives. Why exactly this steel is in demand in their production, and for which knives it is used.

Such a combination as a hunting knife arouses interest among professionals, while a person who is not interested will miss it. The fact is that knives have a special status. They have their own form, the presence of details, the design of each element of which has its own meaning and definition.

For a hunting knife, the first rule is that the blade should keep a good sharpening for a long time. It is considered normal if it is enough to butcher one large carcass, such as a wild boar, elk or deer. The shape of such a knife must have an emphasis for stability. - All these properties and advantages are provided by D2 steel at a low cost.

Chemical composition

According to the chemical composition, D2 refers to high-carbon alloy steels, and more precisely, cutting. Initially, it was developed for the manufacture of cutting teeth based on high-carbon metal with a content of 1.4-1.6% carbon.

The main alloying elements that give such qualities as red brittleness (the metal breaks at t above 725 C, when it takes on a red color) wear resistance are vanadium and molybdenum, the content of which is:

• V-0.9-1.1%;
• Mo- 0.8-1.2%.

Due to the fact that they are very refractory and it is not possible to obtain them by the usual method, these substances are introduced into the melt in the form of fine powders. Getting into liquid steel, the elements form the strongest carbide compounds (VC) and (WC), destroying iron carbide (FeC) and chromium carbide (CR23C6). This provides high strength at high temperatures and good hardenability of the steel.

Molybdenum increases the hardenability of steel to a greater depth and uniform distribution of internal stresses that occur during hardening. Vanadium, in turn, prevents the fragility and fragility of the blade.

Chromium is the only element that makes the alloy resistant to chemical corrosion. But since a minimum chromium content of 13% is required for complete protection, and only 11% is found in D2 steel, it belongs to slightly rusting. In addition, a high carbon content contributes to the formation of a sufficiently large amount of chromium carbide, which affects intergranular corrosion when reacting with acids.

AT without fail silicon and manganese are added in a ratio of 1:1 and an amount of 0.60%. Silicon has a grain boundary strengthening effect. Being a non-carbide-forming element and at the same time refractory, one of the first to crystallize, silicon pushes carbon to the grain boundaries, thereby giving them greater strength.

Manganese, as a rule, sits down in a ratio of 1:1.1 and higher, but in this case 1:1 is maintained. It stabilizes the structure of the metal, both in the austenitic state and tempered martensite. Although it increases the hardness of steel, but without compromising its toughness.

The harmful impurity of phosphorus is reduced to the limit of 0.04%, sulfur to 0.03%. These are not the most minimal limits of their content, but with an increase in this content, they can negatively affect it, and in this range they do not have a negative effect.

Thermomechanical processing

Steel D2 refers to cutting. Such grades are hardened to give the highest possible strength (57 Rockwell units in the annealed state, after quenching and tempering 61 units). The bulk of the steel being hardened is heated in an oxidizing atmosphere, but not quite the usual technology is used for knives due to the thickness difference between the edge and the main thickness of the knife. That is, it is important to ensure uniform heating and obtain a uniform structure throughout the body of the blade: both in the edge and in the butt. With all this, warping of the metal is avoided.

Heating for hardening in an oxidizing atmosphere leads to partial decarburization of the upper layers, which are removed by final processing. But knife blanks are hardened to exact dimensions, because after heat treatment the steel becomes very strong and therefore the final machining that is applied to it is grinding and sharpening of the cutter.

Heating is carried out in salt baths at a temperature of 850-630 ºC. To warm up the entire thickness of the workpiece, an exposure of several seconds or minutes is sufficient, after which the metal is cooled in air. In order for the matrix to heat up and turn into an austenitic state in a matter of seconds, the steel is alloyed with molybdenum and vanadium, which not only increase the wear resistance of the knife, but also increase the hardenability.

Why choose D2

When choosing steel for knives, there are more than 15 grades of them with different chemical composition and properties, they are guided primarily by physical and chemical indicators, on which the main properties of the blade depend. These can be throwing knives, then plasticity is important for them so that they can withstand dynamic shocks, bend, but in this case the blade is not enough to refresh the carcass without a few edits. But blades that hold sharpening for a long time are not designed for throwing, opening bottles and hammering nails.

The second selection criterion is mass production and the final cost of the product. For example, household knives should be corrosion-resistant, keep sharpening, but not necessarily for a long time, but most importantly, be inexpensive. Therefore, it is expensive to use very expensive steel for the production of household products, even if you try to reduce the cost through mass production.

Corrosion resistance is the third factor, apparently not the most important when it comes to the ability to keep sharpening. It is steel grade D2 that pushes this condition into the background, since it corrodes, albeit not actively, with prolonged exposure to water.

D2 steel is optimally suited both in terms of physical and chemical properties and cost. With proper storage (constant contact with water is excluded, any contact with acids) knives will last a very long time. And their cost is in the range of 15-35 USD. e.