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.
A classic conventionally-melted stainless steel and the direct ancestor of CPM 154, historically the premium stainless steel behind many well-known production knives.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…