A growing reference of knife steels used in stock-removal and forged blades, covering composition, toughness, edge retention, corrosion resistance, machinability, and recommended heat treatment for each alloy.
Start with a well-known steel below, or jump to a head-to-head comparison further down the page.
A lean, tough high-carbon steel prized for swords, machetes, and hard-use choppers, offering outstanding shock resistance at the cost of some edge retention compared to higher-carbon steels.
The classic beginner-friendly high-carbon steel: simple, oil-hardening, and forgiving, with a strong balance of toughness and edge-holding that makes it a go-to choice for a first knife.
A classic simple high-carbon steel known for taking a very keen edge and reaching high hardness, but shallow-hardening and less forgiving to heat treat consistently than steels like 1084.
Sandvik's razor-lineage stainless, designed with Kershaw: AEB-L's fine-carbide toughness with nitrogen chemistry that delivers the best corrosion resistance in the budget class. Run soft in factories, outstanding at a maker's 61–62 HRC — the thinking maker's budget stainless.
A classic conventionally-melted stainless steel and the direct ancestor of CPM 154, historically the premium stainless steel behind many well-known production knives.
The bright layer in damascus that is secretly an excellent standalone knife steel: a 2% nickel bandsaw alloy with outstanding toughness, very fine grain, and the hardenability to run 61–62 HRC in thin blades — easy to heat treat and easy on belts.
Uddeholm's 'Spicy White': ~1.25% carbon, ultra-clean and nearly alloy-free - the Western take on Japanese White steel. Scary-keen fine edges at 62-66 HRC, superb razors and kitchen knives, gorgeous hamon capability. Wants a fast oil quench, modest wear resistance, zero rust resistance - the classic fine-carbon contract.
The classic chromium spring steel: outstanding toughness at moderate hardness, low cost, and a leaf-spring heritage that makes it the default choice for swords, machetes and camp choppers — provided you resist the urge to run it hard.
A fine-grained, chromium-alloyed bearing steel valued for exceptionally keen, stable edges and toughness that outperforms plain carbon steels like 1095.
A simple, forgiving high-carbon steel with a small vanadium addition for grain refinement, popular with bladesmiths for tough, hard-use forged blades and choppers.
Band-saw steel turned knife steel: ~0.70% carbon with a nickel addition that buys elite impact toughness at working hardness, a cheap price per bar, and one of the most forgiving heat treats in the shop. Low wear resistance is the honest tradeoff — this is a chopper's steel, not a slicer's.
Air-hardening tool steel with a toughness-first reputation: Bark River’s longtime hard-use steel and the classic plane-iron alloy, tougher than D2 and easy to grind, with moderate wear resistance and carbon-steel rust care.
A simple, fine-grained Swedish stainless steel prized for exceptional toughness and edge stability relative to its modest alloy content, and for being one of the easiest stainless steels to grind and finish.
The forger's super steel: developed openly by Larrin Thomas, Tobias Hangler and Marco Guldimann (released 2023) - ~1.25% C, 2.6% W, 1.5% Cr engineered to hold real toughness at 64-67 HRC with edge retention far beyond classic carbon steels, while still forging and quenching like one. Boutique priced, kitchen-blade focused, the most interesting carbon steel in decades.
The powder-metallurgy remake of 154CM: a well-rounded stainless steel known for easy grinding and finishing, solid edge retention, and dependable toughness for a stainless tool steel.
A top-tier powder-metallurgy stainless steel, chemically near-identical to M390, prized for exceptional edge retention and excellent corrosion resistance in premium EDC and outdoor knives.
A non-stainless powder-metallurgy tool steel prized above nearly everything else for maximum toughness, ideal for hard-use, high-impact blades like choppers and camp knives.
A non-stainless powder-metallurgy tool steel balancing toughness noticeably better than D2 with wear resistance that approaches it, popular for hard-use folders and fixed blades that need to sharpen easily.
A high-speed tool steel with extreme edge retention thanks to a heavy vanadium and tungsten carbide load, popular for hard-use fixed blades where long edge life matters more than rust resistance.
A landmark premium stainless steel developed for knifemaking, prized for top-tier edge retention and good corrosion resistance, though tougher to grind and slightly less tough than its successor, S35VN.
A refined, well-balanced powder-metallurgy stainless steel from Crucible, offering dependable all-around performance across toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance.
A premium powder-metallurgy stainless steel from Crucible, built on S35VN with more chromium and nitrogen for stronger edge retention and corrosion resistance at only a small toughness cost.
Crucible's edge-retention extreme: 2.3% carbon and 9% vanadium in a PM stainless that out-cuts essentially everything mainstream, paid for in toughness, grindability and sharpening effort (diamond stones effectively required). 59-61 HRC, stock removal only. A specialist slicer's steel that is honest about its tradeoffs.
A high-carbide, semi-stainless tool steel known for excellent wear resistance and low heat-treat distortion, at the cost of toughness and ease of sharpening.
A premium powder-metallurgy stainless steel from Bohler-Uddeholm, balancing strong edge retention with excellent corrosion resistance and easier sharpening than most steels in its performance class.
Zapp's nitrogen steel (Z-Finit / Cronidur 30 / N360): part of carbon's job handed to nitrogen so chromium stays in solution - virtually rustproof in salt service, genuinely tough, fine keen low-carbide edge, ceiling around 58-60 HRC and modest wear resistance. The boat, dive and fillet steel.
Bohler's benchmark powder-metallurgy super stainless: ~1.9% carbon and 4% vanadium for elite edge retention, 20% chromium for true stainless service, at the cost of toughness, sharpening effort and price. Near-identical to CPM 20CV and CTS 204P. Stock removal only, 60-62 HRC with proper soak, plate quench and cold treatment.
A powder-metallurgy stainless steel balancing high toughness, strong edge retention, and excellent corrosion resistance, widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded modern knife steels.
A modern stainless steel built from AEB-L with added nitrogen and vanadium, combining high toughness, solid edge retention, and strong corrosion resistance.
The classic oil-hardening tool steel and the original precision ground flat stock: fine-grained, keen-edged and forgiving to grind, with genuinely good edge retention for a low-alloy steel — bought at the price of moderate toughness and full carbon-steel rust care.
A Japanese stainless steel famous for high-end kitchen cutlery, using a cobalt addition to reach high hardness and a fine, precise edge without giving up too much toughness.
The original water-hardening tool steel: ~1% clean simple carbon, shallowest hardening in common use, sold everywhere as cheap drill rod. Forge-friendly, file-friendly, one of the best hamon steels, 60-64 HRC working range - and it demands a committed fast quench and honest rust care. W2 without the vanadium.
The hamon steel: 1095's chemistry plus a pinch of vanadium for fine grain, in a deliberately shallow-hardening package. Clay the spine, quench fast, and W2 draws the most vivid temper line of any commonly available steel — with a keen high-carbon edge and a soft spring of a spine.
Steel Comparisons
Deciding between two steels? These head-to-head breakdowns cover toughness, edge retention, corrosion resistance, and heat treat differences.
1075 is the tougher of the two and the go-to choice for swords, machetes, and other blades that take hard impacts. 1084 is more…
1075's lower carbon content makes it noticeably tougher and more forgiving of grinding and heat-treat mistakes, at essentially no real cost in edge retention…
1075 is the tougher, more forgiving, easier-grinding steel of the two, while 52100 offers meaningfully better edge retention thanks to its bearing-steel chromium content.…
1084 is the easier, more forgiving choice for most makers, especially beginners, thanks to its higher manganese content giving reliable full hardness in ordinary…
Choose AEB-L for maximum toughness and the option to push hardness to 63–64 for thin kitchen edges. Choose 14C28N for meaningfully better stain resistance…
Choose Nitro-V for a touch more edge wear from its vanadium and wide knife-steel availability in maker-friendly sizes. Choose 14C28N for the family's best…
Choose VG-10 for wear resistance and that established Japanese kitchen pedigree — it out-cuts 14C28N on abrasive work. Choose 14C28N for toughness, chip resistance…
15N20 is the better steel on every metric that matters except thickness and price — tougher, finer grained, and usable at higher hardness. Choose…
For damascus, this is not an either-or: use both, roughly 2:1 in favour of 1084 by thickness. As standalone steels, 15N20 is the better…
Choose 15N20 if you grind thin and want maximum durability at high hardness — it is the tougher steel by a wide margin and…
For razors, fine kitchen blades and showpiece hamon, 26C3 earns its premium - cleaner steel, higher usable hardness, crisper edge feel. For working knives,…
Choose 5160 for anything long, thick or destined to chop — swords, machetes, kukris, big camp knives. Choose 1084 for smaller blades, first projects…
Choose 52100 for slicing blades — hunters, kitchen knives, EDC — where a fine, long-lasting edge is the job. Choose 5160 for long or…
80CrV2 is the better all-rounder — nearly as tough as 5160 but capable of a harder, longer-lasting edge. Choose 5160 when the blade is…
52100 is the more capable steel across the board: tougher, better edge retention, and a finer, more stable edge, all from its fine grain…
52100's higher chromium content, originally developed as a bearing steel, gives it better edge retention than 80CrV2, at a very slight cost in ease…
These two are nearly interchangeable in practice. 80CrV2's vanadium addition gives it a small edge in grain refinement and forgiveness of forging mistakes, while…
80CrV2 is the tougher, more shock-resistant of the two thanks to its small additions of chromium and vanadium, while 1095 remains the simpler, more…
Choose 15N20 if damascus is anywhere in your future — its high nickel is the bright layer, and as a standalone steel it is…
Choose 5160 for swords, giant choppers and spring-flex builds run at modest hardness — it is the proven benchmark there. Choose 8670 to get…
Choose 8670 for maximum toughness per dollar at ordinary hardness — it is the closest thing to an unbreakable budget blade. Choose 80CrV2 if…
CPM 3V outperforms A2 on paper: substantially tougher AND more wear-resistant, thanks to powder metallurgy and vanadium carbides. A2 answers with price, availability, easier…
CPM CruWear upgrades A2 in both directions at once - more wear resistance AND comparable-or-better toughness - which is exactly what it was designed…
Pick A2 for hard use: it is clearly tougher, grinds and finishes far more easily, and takes a finer edge. Pick D2 when slicing…
AEB-L is the tougher, easier-to-grind steel, while 154CM edges ahead slightly in edge retention. For most knifemakers prioritizing forgiving shop work and resilience, AEB-L…
Nitro-V is a genuine, if modest, upgrade over AEB-L: slightly better edge retention at essentially the same toughness and corrosion resistance, at the cost…
ApexUltra when the product is maximum performance - 65-66 HRC working edges that out-wear everything traditional, priced into a flagship blade. 26C3 when the…
The two share the same rated performance in toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. The real difference is consistency: CPM 154's finer grain gives…
These two are close at the top of the field. CPM S30V is slightly tougher and has a longer, more established production track record,…
Elmax is the more forgiving, more balanced steel overall, with meaningfully better toughness and easier sharpening at a very small cost in peak edge…
CPM 3V is the tougher of the two and generally considered the benchmark for maximum toughness among tool steels. CPM CruWear closes most of…
CPM 3V is the far tougher, easier-to-grind steel, while CPM M4 offers substantially better edge retention at the cost of toughness and ease of…
CPM 3V is dramatically tougher, purpose-built to resist chipping and cracking under hard use, while D2 offers slightly better raw edge retention and a…
CPM CruWear offers a more balanced profile with meaningfully better toughness and easier grinding, while CPM M4 pulls ahead in outright edge retention. For…
Both hold an edge exceptionally well, essentially tied at the top of this site's edge-retention scale. The real difference is corrosion resistance: CPM M4…
S35VN is the better all-around pick for most users: it trades a small amount of edge retention for meaningfully better toughness and easier grinding.…
CPM S30V holds a raw edge-retention edge thanks to its vanadium carbide content, while Elmax pulls ahead in toughness, corrosion resistance, and ease of…
CPM S45VN is a genuine step up from CPM S35VN: noticeably better edge retention and improved corrosion resistance, with toughness holding steady rather than…
S90V for the dedicated slicer whose owner has diamond stones and wants maximum cutting endurance; M390 for everything else premium - it does 85%…
D2 offers significantly better edge retention and noticeably better corrosion resistance, at the cost of a much harder, more demanding grind and heat treat.…
AEB-L is the far easier, tougher, more forgiving steel to work with and carry. D2 pulls ahead only in raw edge retention, at a…
CPM 154 is the easier, more dependable all-around choice for most knives: better corrosion resistance, better toughness, and much easier to grind and sharpen.…
These two are nearly tied. Toughness and edge retention are essentially equal, with Elmax holding a modest edge in corrosion resistance. Either is a…
They are functionally the same steel - pick by price, availability and bar size, not mystique. If a specific knife performs differently in one…
Both steels are excellent for toughness, but MagnaCut is the clear step up in outright performance, offering meaningfully better edge retention and corrosion resistance.…
MagnaCut trades a small amount of edge retention for dramatically better toughness at the same excellent corrosion resistance, making it the more forgiving, harder-to-chip…
These two are closer than almost any other pairing in this database. MagnaCut has the edge in toughness, S45VN has the edge in wear…
Extremely close overall. MagnaCut pulls ahead on toughness thanks to its more modern, purpose-built alloy design, while corrosion resistance, edge retention, and machinability come…
Full-time salt exposure - dive knives, surf fishing, boat duty - LC200N: its immunity is real and proven. Everything else wet-adjacent, MagnaCut: more hardness,…
MagnaCut is the more modern, higher-performing steel overall, meaningfully tougher and more corrosion resistant than VG-10 with comparable edge retention. VG-10 remains a well-proven,…
Nitro-V is noticeably tougher thanks to its nitrogen-enhanced alloy design, while edge retention, corrosion resistance, and ease of grinding come out essentially tied between…
Nitro-V is the tougher, more shock-resistant steel, while VG-10 holds a modest edge-retention advantage and remains the more traditional choice for premium Japanese kitchen…
Choose 1084 if you are heat treating by eye in a forge, or building your first few knives — it is nearly impossible to…
Choose O1 for a better all-round working knife — more wear resistance, a more forgiving quench and a finer edge. Choose 1095 when you…
Pick A2 for hard-use blades and for flat, warp-free heat treatment — it is clearly the tougher steel. Pick O1 for slicing knives where…
These two are close. VG-10 holds a slight edge-retention advantage thanks to its cobalt addition and fine grain, while 154CM is marginally easier to…
AEB-L is the tougher, far easier steel to grind and finish, while VG-10 holds a real edge-retention advantage and a slightly more precise bite.…
Building a hamon showpiece: W2 - the vanadium grain refinement draws the most vivid activity in the business and forgives an overheated forge cycle.…
Choose W2 for any blade where the hamon matters — its shallower hardening and finer grain draw a sharper, more active line. Choose 1095…
Choose 52100 for a through-hardened forged blade that needs real toughness with its keen edge — hunters, camp knives, kitchen workhorses. Choose W2 when…
Choose O1 for precision stock-removal work and a forgiving, kiln-controlled path to a keen slicer. Choose W2 when the blade is meant to show…