| Knife steel is a critical component of the custom | | | | for a variety of knife styles, but is usually used |
| knife. Making a fine homemade knife is a work of | | | | for bigger blades that need more toughness. It is |
| patience, and a dedication to precision | | | | quick and easy to sharpen, and, when resistance |
| craftsmanship. A custom knife maker must | | | | to lateral forces comes into play, 5160 is a |
| understand the science of metallurgy when | | | | champion. |
| choosing an appropriate knife steel. | | | | 50100-B |
| To rust or not to rust, that is the question. | | | | 50100-B is the AISI designation of the same steel |
| Actually, that is only one of the questions. To | | | | as 0170-6. The B designates vanadium has been |
| maintain a great edge, or not to maintain a great | | | | added. This steel is a good chrome-vanadium alloy |
| edge is another important question! Many custom | | | | that is similar in properties to 0-1, but it is much |
| knife makers are finding middle ground for those | | | | less expensive. It is essentially 52100 with 1/3 less |
| two questions. | | | | chromium. |
| High carbon and stainless steels are both | | | | 52100 |
| acceptable if properly alloyed. The high carbon | | | | 52100 is often compared to 5160. It has a little |
| steels are typically the steels that are forged. | | | | more carbon content than 5160, and thus holds |
| They can be differentially tempered. This | | | | an edge better. It isn't as tough though. The |
| property gives the knife maker more options. He | | | | tradeoff is in wear resistance. Many hunting knives |
| can better control the hardness of the cutting | | | | are now being made from this steel. |
| edge, and still have a tough knife with a springy | | | | Now, let's consider the alloys of stainless for knife |
| back. | | | | steel. |
| Let's consider first, some of the more common | | | | Stainless steel is designated as such if it has |
| carbon knife steel available. | | | | greater than 13% chromium. However, the ASM |
| 10xx Series | | | | Metals Handbook says that it only must be |
| 1095 is the most popular steel for knives. It is a | | | | greater than 10%. There are also different |
| simple steel consisting of.95% carbon, and.4% | | | | numbers thrown around. This difference though, is |
| manganese. Other 10 series steels are used for | | | | probably due to the amount of free chromium |
| knife making such as 1084, 1070, 1060, and 1050 | | | | available. There are many stainless alloys with |
| etc. Each of these steels are decreasing in carbon | | | | varying corrosion-resistant properties that make it |
| content, and thus are also decreasing in wear | | | | a good material for knife blades. |
| resistance. At the same time, as the carbon | | | | 420 and 420HC |
| content goes down the toughness goes up. As | | | | 420 is an extremely soft steel because of the |
| such, some of the lower carbon content | | | | less than.5% carbon content. It will not hold an |
| designations are more commonly used for | | | | edge well, but it is very stain resistant, and is |
| swords. | | | | often used for less expensive knives. It is also |
| O-1 | | | | often used to make diving knives. 420 HC is |
| O-1 steel is another high carbon steel which gives | | | | tailored to be more like 440A by including more |
| razor sharp edges but dulls quicker than A2 Steel. | | | | carbon. |
| O-1, like A2 has a 1% carbon content It has | | | | 440A, 440B, and 440C |
| 1.35% manganese,.5% chromium,.35% silicon, | | | | This series of steels increases in carbon content |
| and.5% tungsten. O-1 steel is more forgiving to | | | | from A -.75%, to B -.9%, to C - 1.2%. 440C |
| those who are not as accomplished in getting a | | | | steel, if hardened appropriately, is an excellent |
| decent edge. In summary, it is easier/faster to | | | | knife steel. It is very tough, and has good edge |
| hone to a razor sharp edge than some of the | | | | holding qualities. It does not hold an edge as good |
| other choices, but does not stand up to abuse as | | | | as ATS-34, but is more stain resistant. This |
| well. 0-1 is very popular with forgers and | | | | complete series is very rust resistant. 440A is |
| bladesmiths. It is tough, although not as tough as | | | | most rust resistant, and 440C the least. |
| 5160. | | | | AUS-6, AUS-8, and AUS-10 |
| L-6 | | | | This is a Japanese series of steels that roughly |
| L-6 is very similar to O-1. It is basically band saw | | | | compare with the above 440 Series. The carbon |
| steel. It is possibly the very best steel for a knife | | | | content increasing from AUS-6 -.65%, to AUS-8 |
| if maintenance is not an issue. It rusts very easily, | | | | -.75%, to AUS-10 - 1.1%. AUS-6 would more |
| but holds an edge very well. It is also very tough. | | | | closely compare to the cheaper low-end 420. |
| It is a favorite of forgers. | | | | AUS-8 is a middle level steel like GIN-1 or ATS-55. |
| W-2 | | | | AUS-10 competes with higher end steels, and |
| W-2 is reasonably tough and holds an edge well | | | | generally compares well with 440C. It has slightly |
| because of its.25% vanadium. It also has.25% | | | | less chromium than 440C, but all three steels of |
| manganese, and silicon. It is not as common or | | | | this series have vanadium added. Vanadium |
| popular. | | | | improves the wear resistance and the grain, which |
| A2 | | | | gives these steels the ability to be sharpened to a |
| A2 steel is almost a stainless steel. At (5%) it | | | | very fine edge. Vanadium also improves wear |
| does not have quite enough chromium. It has 1% | | | | resistance. These steels are often referred to as |
| carbon,.6% Manganese, 1% molybdenum, and.2% | | | | 6A, 8A, and 10A. |
| Vanadium. It is not prone to rust. A2 steel is | | | | GIN-1 |
| popular for combat knives because of its | | | | GIN-1, also referred to as G-2 compares generally |
| toughness. The toughness of the edge of the A2 | | | | to AUS-8, and ATS-55. It has less carbon, and |
| steel is improved by cryogenically treating the | | | | much less molybdenum than ATS-34. It is a little |
| blades at -320 degrees Fahrenheit. A2 steel is | | | | higher in chromium, and typically is used for the |
| much harder than 0-1 carbon steel and although | | | | less expensive knives. |
| more difficult to sharpen, it keeps an edge longer. | | | | ATS-34 |
| It performs best somewhere between 30 and 35 | | | | ATS-34 steel is universally recognized for its edge |
| degrees. The problem with A2 steel is that it | | | | holding and taking capabilities. It is a Japanese steel |
| tends to fracture more easily when the bevel is | | | | that favorably compares to the U.S version, 154 |
| ground less than 30 degrees. A2 is tougher than | | | | CM, which is not nearly as popular. ATS-34 is |
| D2 and M2, but has less wear resistance. | | | | definitely stronger than 440 steel so breaking the |
| M2 | | | | tip on this steel will be less likely, but it is not as |
| M2 Steel is a fine-grained molybdenum/tungsten | | | | rust resistant. ATS-34, is typically, either hot or |
| high-speed tool steel. It has.85% carbon,.25% | | | | cold rolled depending on its thickness, but both are |
| manganese, 4.2% chromium,.30% silicon, 5% | | | | likely annealed (heat treated). |
| molybdenum, 6.35% tungsten, and 1.9% | | | | ATS-55 |
| vanadium. It is an excellent choice for high | | | | ATS-55 is a level behind ATS-34, because it does |
| temperature applications. For example, the | | | | not have molybdenum. Without the molybdenum, |
| annealing temperature of M2 steel is | | | | it does not hold an edge as well, and is not as |
| approximately 1000° F. It is slightly tougher and | | | | resistant to rust, and has less wear resistance. It |
| more wear resistant than D2, however, M2 rusts | | | | compares favorably with GIN-1, and AUS-8 |
| more easily. | | | | BG-42 |
| D2 | | | | BG-42 is becoming more popular. It is also more |
| "D" series steels are classed as cold work tool | | | | expensive than ATS-34, which may limit its |
| steels. D2 steel is a premium tool steel. With 1.5% | | | | popularity. Because of the addition of vanadium, |
| carbon content It is better at holding an edge | | | | and twice as much manganese as ATS-34, it will |
| than less exotic stainless steels. D2 has a fairly | | | | hold a significantly better edge, and will also have |
| high chromium content (11.5%) and is sometimes | | | | better toughness than ATS-34. It is a little harder |
| referred to as a "semi-stainless". It is a well | | | | to work. |
| respected, air hardened, high carbon, high | | | | S30V, S60V and S90V |
| chromium tool steel. It has 1% molybdenum, | | | | This series of steels is packed with a greater |
| and.9% vanadium. It possesses extremely high | | | | amount of alloys because of the particle |
| wear resistance properties. D2 steel is one of the | | | | metallurgy process that is very different from |
| toughest knife blades you can get, and is a | | | | conventional steel manufacturing methods. These |
| favorite of the best custom knife makers. | | | | are high vanadium knives, and compare favorably |
| Anyone who has ever used a good D2 steel | | | | with BG-42. They are probably more wear |
| blade in the field, raves about the steels cutting | | | | resistant than any other stainless steel. However, |
| ability, durability, and edge holding properties. | | | | they are even more expensive than BG-42, and |
| Simply put, D2 steel can produce one of the best | | | | even more difficult to work. This relegates them |
| blade stocks available for a working knife. | | | | mostly to the experienced custom knife maker |
| 5160 | | | | sphere. S60V is often referred to as CPM |
| 5160 steel is a common spring steel. It is basically | | | | T440V, and S90V as CPM T420V. |
| 1060 with 1% of chromium added to make it | | | | Whether looking for an easily cared for knife, or a |
| deep hardening. It is used in swords, axes or | | | | knife that holds a great edge, knowing the options |
| other high-impact tools. 5160 Steel is popular now | | | | available may give you the best of both worlds. |