http://www.rockynational.com/1104_22-06065_Gerber_Gator_Folding_Drop_Point_Serrated_Edge.html
This one has the 154 CM metal blade. Quite stronger compared to 420 HC.
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A-2: An excellent air-hardening tool steel with 5% Cr, known for its great toughness and good edge holding. Its outstanding toughness makes it a frequent choice for combat knives. Deeper hardening and more wear-resistant than O-1, and holds a keener cutting edge. More readily machined than high C, high Cr grades.
ATS-34: Japanese high carbon, high chrome/moly stainless by Hitachi. 13½-14½% Cr. Very good combination of sharpening, edge-holding, rust resistance and strength. See 154-CM. Superfine grain structure = edge holding. Rc 60-62.
ATS-55: Similar to ATS-34, but with the Mo removed and some other elements added. Not much is known about this steel yet, apparently intent was ATS-34 edge-holding with increased toughness at a lower price.
AUS-6 or 6A: Japanese medium to high carbon stainless. .65% C. Basically 440-A with added V. Tougher than ATS-34, 440-C, ATS-55, etc., but still holds a good edge. 440-C is better. Particularly well suited for heavier, longer blades that are subjected to a lot of stress while chopping and hacking.
AUS-8 or 8A: Japanese low carbon, high chromium stainless roughly comparable to 440-B. .75% C. Has some V, which 440-B lacks. Good compromise between toughness, strength, edge holding and resistance to corrosion. As heat treated by Cold Steel, won’t hold an edge like ATS-34. According to Cold Steel, the only equal to AUS-8 in strength and toughness is AUS-10.
AUS-10 or 10A: Japanese high carbon stainless roughly comparable to 440-C, with slightly less Cr. 1.1% C. Has some V, which 440-C lacks. Equal in strength and toughness to AUS 8, but has an additional 20% in edge holding ability, giving it a claimed wide performance advantage over ATS-34, ATS-55 and 440V.
BG-42: Stainless bearing steel, but will rust. BG-42 is 440-C modified with the addition of 3.5% Mo and 1.2% V for added wear resistance and hardness retention at high heats. Best(?) edge holding steel. A VIM/VAR ingot steel. The blade gains advantages in toughness and grain structure by using ball bearing steels. Has a fine grain structure and takes and holds an exceptionally sharp edge. Can be hardened to Rc 60 which will hold a thin edge. Doesn’t finish as smooth as ATS-34. Chosen for its high V content and tight carbide structure. American steel, manufactured in Latrobe, Penn. Greg Lightfoot recommends it highly. Chris Reeve has tested this steel extensively and believes it to be superior to anything else available on the market, including ATS-34. Has a higher Cr content (14½%), superior edge-holding ability, hardness and brute strength. Offers about the best balance of properties for a stainless steel - that or CPM 420V. Not as tough as some of the toughest steels here; however tougher than the stainless steels and holds an edge better. No stainless is really that tough, compared to a non-stainless tool steel like A-2 or CPM3V. Will hold an edge longer, and get sharper than 420V. Use 56-60 Rc, but starts to get brittle at 60 Rc. At 61 Rc, BG-42 is going to get sharper, but, the 420V has the advantage of working at a lower hardness. Both will offer about equal corrosion resistance-they are exceptionally pure, clean steels, and have roughly the same free Cr. Either of these steels rules over ATS-34. A bit more expensive than ATS-34.
Carbon V: High carbon, low alloy cutlery grade steel, “specially treated” with precise heat treatment to make it extra tough, with good edge holding capability. A trademarked term by Cold Steel; not necessarily one particular kind of steel, rather, it is whatever steel Cold Steel happens to be using at the time. Performs roughly between 1095-ish and O-1-ish, and rusts like O-1 as well. Rumors are that Carbon V is O-1 (unlikely) or 1095. Numerous industry insiders insist it is 0170-6. Some spark tests seem to indicate 50100-B. Since 50100-B and 0170-6 are the same steel (see below), this is likely the current Carbon V. Carbon V knives are hardened to Rc 59.
Ceramics: Usually very very brittle, and cannot be sharpened by the user; however, they hold an edge well. Not as sharp as the best steels. Kevin “Mad Dog” McClung recently came out with a ceramic composite knife blade that much tougher than the previous ceramics, tough enough to actually be useful as a knife blade for most jobs. It is also user-sharpenable, and holds an edge incredibly well. Zirconia is a material of great hardness included in ceramic used in making ceramic blades and used as grain on grinding belts for grinding knives. Böker ceramic is zircon oxide.
Cera-Titan: Titanium, ceramic & silver. Gives up a little of ceramic’s edge holding for less brittleness, but better edge holding than top stainless. Holds an edge like ceramic with toughness closer to steel.
Cobalt & Stellite 6K: A flexible material with very good wear resistance, it is practically 100% corrosion resistant. Has an edge-holding capability that far exceeds even the best of today’s stainless steels. Stellite 6K, sometimes seen in knives, is a cobalt alloy. See Talonite. (David Boye)
CPM T420V (& CPM T440V): Offer about the best balance of properties for a stainless steel-that or BG-42. Holds an edge not as long or sharp as BG-42, but better than ATS-34. Edge holding ability is said to be 2 - 3x better than 440-C at 57 - 58RC. There are a few other powder metal steels that will give similar performance but none that are measurably better at edge holding. However, it’s difficult to get the edge there in the first place. Depending on heat treatment, expect to have to work a bit harder to sharpen these steels. Works at a lower hardness. Less tough than ATS-34. Exceptionally pure, clean steel. Both high in V. 420V is CPM’s follow-on to 440V, and with less Cr and almost double the V, is more wear-resistant and may be tougher than 440V. Rc 56-57.
CPM 10V: Another CPM steel. Edge holding ability is said to be 2-3x better than 440-C at 57-58Rc. Toughness equal to M-2 and D-2, with increased wear resistance.
CPM S30V: Premium American cutlery stainless. Powder made with uniform carbide distribution structure and clean steel properties. Excellent corrosion resistance. Extremely fine grain, excellent edge retention and superb edge qualities. The V content allows for the formation of vanadium carbides resulting in edge holding that is independent of hardness. Wide range of applications depending on heat treatment. 2-3 times the pry bar strength of 154 CM. Some judge superior to ATS-34 and BG-42. Hot new steel.
Damascus: Remarkable toughness and edge quality.
Damasteel RWL34/PMC27: Made with powder metal technology and has no welds as with traditional Damascus steels. Two or more different metals in powder form are fused together with heat and pressure. Damascene steels consist of two different steel grades, welded in over a hundred layers. After etching, one of the steel grades turns dark and a beautiful pattern appears on the surface.
D1.4: Solingen stainless.
D2: High carbon, high chrome tool die steel. THE outstanding high C, high Cr tool steel for general use. The most important characteristic of this air hardening tool die steel is its resistance to wear or abrasion. “D” series steels are classed as Cold Work Tool Steels, high C, high Cr type. Very tough, but may be a little less tough than some of the other steels mentioned. Holds an edge very well, possibly better than BG-42. High impact resistance. Takes hard use well (chopping). Cuts and holds an edge better than most steels, including M-2, 1095, AUS-8, ATS-34 and VG-10. Fairly high in Cr (12%). Good corrosion resistance, but will pit and rust. Sometimes called a “semi-stainless.” Does not take a beautiful finish. Outstanding knife steel; one of the few that is “tougher than a cob” at 60-61 Rc. Can be hardened far beyond the favored 60-61 Rc. 440XH is stainless D-2.
G-2 or GIN-1: Stainless with less C and more Cr and much less Mo than ATS-34. Offers nearly the same qualities as 154-CM or ATS-34 but is slightly more corrosion resistant. Very good stainless steel. Cheaper.
H1: A high-Cr stainless which offers 100% corrosion resistance in both salt and fresh water. Tradeoff is good edge quality and good edge toughness. Good rescue/dive/emergency knife.
L-6: A band saw steel that is very tough and holds an edge well, but rusts easily. Like O-1, it is a forgiving steel for the forger. If you’re willing to put up with the maintenance, this may be one of the very best steels available for cutlery, especially where toughness is desired.
M-2: High speed non-stainless steel. Very tough tool grade steel used for cutting steel. Tougher, sharper, and holds an edge better than ATS-34. High impact strength with incredible edge holding properties, but perhaps more brittle than typical premium blades. Extraordinary abrasion resistance and superb toughness. At a Rockwell hardness of 62 Rc it exhibits extreme toughness, with no signs of brittleness, and edge retention that is superior to most other blade materials. Works well at 62-66 Rc. Highly susceptible to corrosion and will rust unless properly maintained.
M-4: Chemical content nearly identical to M-2 except for 4% V instead of 2%; is capable of nearly twice the wear life.
MBS-26: Japanese oil-quenched stainless.
N690: An Austrian made stainless, comparable to 440C in performance and value. Keen edge qualities with excellent corrosion resistance.
O-1 and O-2: The most widely used general purpose oil hardening tool and die steels. Good combination of hardness and toughness. Strong, takes a very good edge, sharpens very easily. Superior edge to ATS-34 and 440-C. Very popular with forgers; has the reputation for being “forgiving.” Excellent steels that take and hold an edge superbly, and are very tough. Rusts easily. Use Rc 56-57.
RWL34: A Swedish powder metal stainless.
San Mai III: San Mai means “three layers.” Provides a superior blade with hard (higher carbon) stainless steel in the middle core/edge for a keen, long lasting edge inside two layers of tougher (lower-carbon) spring tempered stainless steel along the sides for flexibility and support. 25% stronger than AUS 8A.
Sandvik: A tool steel made in Sweden. Swedish steel has always been a premium steel for tools because the iron ore is very clean, that is, with very little sulfur or phosphorus.
Sandvik 13C-26: High carbon stainless tool steel.
Sandvik 19C27: High carbon, high chromium stainless. At 60-62 Rc the steel is highly wear resistant for edge holding and corrosion resistance.
Sandvik LV-04: Closed-die-forged high carbon stainless tool steel.
T15: A “Super High Speed Steel.” Not suitable for knives.
T5MOV: High carbon stainless.
Talonite/Stellite: A cobalt-chromium alloy formula based on Stellite, now owned by a Canadian firm. This material is many times as wear resistant as the finest knife steel, and contains no iron, which also makes it rust free and non-magnetic. Low on the Rockwell scale but excellent abrasion resistance. Will hold an edge as well as stellite; many times better than even the best stainless steels on the market today. Not hard to sharpen. Totally rust resistant and will hold surface qualities over hundreds of years of exposure to corrosive elements. Has a matrix of carbides in the alloy that give this material its performance characteristics. When the cutting edge feels dull to the touch, it will continue to cut due to the presence of the carbide matrix. Slightly softer than stainless steel, making it easier to sharpen. Ni 3% max, Si 2% max, Fe 3% max, Mn 2% max, Cr 28-32%, Mo 1.5% max, W 3.5-5.5%, C 0.9-1.4%, balance Co. See Cobalt & Stellite.
Titanium: Newer titanium alloys can be hardened near 50 Rc, and at that hardness seem to take something approaching a useful edge. Extremely rust-resistant, and non-magnetic. Slightly lighter than steel, extremely strong and resilient.
Vascowear: A very hard-to-find steel, with a high vanadium content. Extremely difficult to work and very wear-resistant. Out of production.
VG-10: Produced by a small foundry in Honshu island in Japan. An ingot steel. A good combination of “stuff” carefully blended. Cutting performance similar to ATS-34, but without quite the same brittleness and sharpening difficulties. Looks like a real winner of a steel, only seriously outperformed by carbon steels and particle stainless types. Edge holding below O-1 and D-2 on soft materials. Significantly superior to ATS-34 & 55 in corrosion resistance. In edge retention, at least as good as and often better than ATS steels. VG-10 is today’s hot new stainless steel for heavy duty folders, said to hold an edge better than ATS-34. It will certainly hold an edge better than AUS8A.
W-1: The same as W-2 except for the V content (W-1 has no V). Most files are made from W-1, also called a spring steel.
W-2: Reasonably tough and holds an edge well, due to its 0.2% V.
X15 T.N: French steel developed for jet engine ball bearings and scalpels. Superior rust resistance, with ample edge retention and an easy to maintain edge. Great for salt water environments.
XT70: Stainless, 55 Rc. (Katz)
XT80: Stainless, 59 Rc. Excellent ability to retain an edge, claimed better than 440-C or ATS-34. Probably a version of 440-C, with about 1% C and 12-14% Cr. (Katz)
Z60CDV14: A clean high carbon Swedish stainless. Higher in Ni and Mo than AUS-8, with a little less C. Good balance between ease of sharpening and edge retention.
9Cr14MoV: Chinese made steel similar to AUS-8. Value steel.
9Cr13CoMoV: Chinese made high-carbon stainless with increased Co for greater edge retention. High level of corrosion resistance. Good value.
154-CM: High carbon, high chrome/moly stainless, nearly identical to ATS-34, but possibly superior, made in USA by Crucible Steel for tough industrial applications. Also called 440-C Modified. Exceptional wear resistance. Has super-fine grain structure for excellent lasting edge sharpness. Normally hardened to around 60 Rc, it holds an edge very well and is tough enough even at that high hardness. Good all-around qualities. Great corrosion resistance, though not quite as rust resistant as the 400 series.
300 Series and “Surgical stainless”: Useless cutlery stainless.
“400 Series” Stainless: Probably 420J2 or 440-A, but there’s nothing to keep a company from using any 4xx steel, like 420 or 425-M, and calling it 400 Series Stainless.
410: Worse than 420J2
420J2: Softer, cheaper, ~0.15% carbon stainless tool steel, with Rc <53-55??
420: Lower carbon content (<0.5%) than the 440 series makes this steel extremely soft, and it doesn’t hold an edge well. Used often for diving knives, as it is extremely stain resistant. Also used often for very inexpensive knives. Outside of salt water use, it is too soft to be a good choice for a utility knife.
420HC: 420 High Carbon. Buck has ion fused some of its 420HC SS blades with titanium (or zirconium?) nitride (TiN) to produce a surface that is >80 Rc and holds an edge five times longer than standard blades. Performs well with proper heat treatment.
425-M (& 425?) & 12C27: Both are very similar to 440-A. 425-M has 0.5% C. 12C27 (0.6% C) is a Scandanavian steel used often in Finish and Norwegian knives. Cheap stainless. Soft and malleable?
440-A: Mid grade stainless. Most “plain” 440 is 440-A. Rc 56-59.
440-C: High grade (Solingen) high chromium stainless that holds edge well, not too hard to sharpen, doesn’t rust. Terrific balance of good hardness and corrosion resistance. Better than 440-A. Most popular. Use Rc 58-60.
440-C Modified: Same as 154-CM.
440-A, 440-B, 440-C: The carbon content (and hardenability) of this stainless steel goes up in order from A (.75%) to B (.9%) to C (1.2%). 440-C is an excellent, high-end stainless steel, usually hardened to around 56-60 Rc. All three resist rust well, with 440-A being the most rust resistant, and 440-C the least. A knife marked with just “440” is probably the less expensive 440-A; if a manufacturer had used the more expensive 440-C, he’d want to advertise that. Generally 440-A (and similar steels) is just good enough for everyday use, especially with a good heat treat (SOG). 440-B is a very solid performer and 440-C is excellent.
440XH: Stainless D-2.
SAE rates steel with a four-digit number. The first two digits refer to the steel “group,” the second pair to the amount of carbon present in 10ths of a percent. 1095 ~0.95% C, 52100 ~1.0% C, 5160 ~0.60% C. In the SAE system, steels with letter designations (W-2, A-2) are tool steels. In the AISI steel system, 10xx is carbon steel, any other steels are alloy steels. Ex: the 50xx series are chromium steels.
10XX, 11XX, 12XX, 15XX: The carbon steel group, a basic multi-use steel. Most standard OEM axles are 1040-grade. These grades all carry from 1.00 to 1.65% Mn. Generally very ductile but not particularly strong. They require careful hardening to be used as a bearing surface.
The 10-series; 1095 (and 1084, 1070, 1060, 1050, etc.): 1095 is the most popular for knives. In order from 1095-1050, you generally go from more carbon to less, from better edge holding to less edge holding, and tough to tougher to toughest. 1060 and 1050 are used often for swords.
1040: Carbon steel used for axles. Can be made strong with proper heat treatment. Cost effective. Avg. yield 110,000 psi, avg. tensile 125,000 psi.
1050: Carbon steel used for axles. Extra C vs. 1040 makes it respond better to heat treatment. More expensive than 1040, but still cost effective. Avg. yield 140,000 psi, avg. tensile 160,000 psi.
1084: A good all around steel that holds an edge well when properly hardened and drawn.
1095: Sort of the “standard” carbon steel, not too expensive and performs well. Reasonably tough and holds an edge very well. Rusts easily. A simple steel, which contains only two alloying elements: ~0.95% C and 0.4% Mn. The various Kabars are usually 1095 with a black coating.
1541H: Carbon steel used for high performance auto parts. The 15-series carbon steels have more Mn than the 10-series. This makes it respond even better to heat treatment. The “H” indicates a dash of extra Si, which increases hardness. 1541H is more expensive to produce than other carbon steels, but is still cost effective based on its strength. Avg. yield 160,000 psi, avg. tensile 180,000 psi.
5150: Medium carbon, low alloy steel. Ideal for heat treated blades that have a very thick cross section such as tomahawks, axes, etc. Use 55-60 Rc. Extremely tough and impact resistant. (Cold Steel ‘hawks)
5160: A tough, springy steel popular with forgers, it is extremely popular now and a very high-end steel. Essentially a simple spring steel with Cr added for hardenability. Has good edge holding, but is known especially for its outstanding toughness (like L-6). Often used for swords (hardened in the low 50s Rc) and large knives because of its toughness, and is also used for hard use knives (hardened up near the 60s Rc).
52XX: Chromium steel group. Contains 1.45% Cr. A strong yet flexible alloy.
52100: A non-stainless ball-bearing steel used only by forgers. Similar to 5160 (though it has around 1% C vs. 5160 ~0.60%), but holds an edge better. Less tough than 5160, however. Exhibits many of the same advantages as BG-42. Used often for hunting knives and other knives where the user is willing to trade off a little of 5160’s toughness for better edge holding.
This one has the 154 CM metal blade. Quite stronger compared to 420 HC.
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A-2: An excellent air-hardening tool steel with 5% Cr, known for its great toughness and good edge holding. Its outstanding toughness makes it a frequent choice for combat knives. Deeper hardening and more wear-resistant than O-1, and holds a keener cutting edge. More readily machined than high C, high Cr grades.
ATS-34: Japanese high carbon, high chrome/moly stainless by Hitachi. 13½-14½% Cr. Very good combination of sharpening, edge-holding, rust resistance and strength. See 154-CM. Superfine grain structure = edge holding. Rc 60-62.
ATS-55: Similar to ATS-34, but with the Mo removed and some other elements added. Not much is known about this steel yet, apparently intent was ATS-34 edge-holding with increased toughness at a lower price.
AUS-6 or 6A: Japanese medium to high carbon stainless. .65% C. Basically 440-A with added V. Tougher than ATS-34, 440-C, ATS-55, etc., but still holds a good edge. 440-C is better. Particularly well suited for heavier, longer blades that are subjected to a lot of stress while chopping and hacking.
AUS-8 or 8A: Japanese low carbon, high chromium stainless roughly comparable to 440-B. .75% C. Has some V, which 440-B lacks. Good compromise between toughness, strength, edge holding and resistance to corrosion. As heat treated by Cold Steel, won’t hold an edge like ATS-34. According to Cold Steel, the only equal to AUS-8 in strength and toughness is AUS-10.
AUS-10 or 10A: Japanese high carbon stainless roughly comparable to 440-C, with slightly less Cr. 1.1% C. Has some V, which 440-C lacks. Equal in strength and toughness to AUS 8, but has an additional 20% in edge holding ability, giving it a claimed wide performance advantage over ATS-34, ATS-55 and 440V.
BG-42: Stainless bearing steel, but will rust. BG-42 is 440-C modified with the addition of 3.5% Mo and 1.2% V for added wear resistance and hardness retention at high heats. Best(?) edge holding steel. A VIM/VAR ingot steel. The blade gains advantages in toughness and grain structure by using ball bearing steels. Has a fine grain structure and takes and holds an exceptionally sharp edge. Can be hardened to Rc 60 which will hold a thin edge. Doesn’t finish as smooth as ATS-34. Chosen for its high V content and tight carbide structure. American steel, manufactured in Latrobe, Penn. Greg Lightfoot recommends it highly. Chris Reeve has tested this steel extensively and believes it to be superior to anything else available on the market, including ATS-34. Has a higher Cr content (14½%), superior edge-holding ability, hardness and brute strength. Offers about the best balance of properties for a stainless steel - that or CPM 420V. Not as tough as some of the toughest steels here; however tougher than the stainless steels and holds an edge better. No stainless is really that tough, compared to a non-stainless tool steel like A-2 or CPM3V. Will hold an edge longer, and get sharper than 420V. Use 56-60 Rc, but starts to get brittle at 60 Rc. At 61 Rc, BG-42 is going to get sharper, but, the 420V has the advantage of working at a lower hardness. Both will offer about equal corrosion resistance-they are exceptionally pure, clean steels, and have roughly the same free Cr. Either of these steels rules over ATS-34. A bit more expensive than ATS-34.
Carbon V: High carbon, low alloy cutlery grade steel, “specially treated” with precise heat treatment to make it extra tough, with good edge holding capability. A trademarked term by Cold Steel; not necessarily one particular kind of steel, rather, it is whatever steel Cold Steel happens to be using at the time. Performs roughly between 1095-ish and O-1-ish, and rusts like O-1 as well. Rumors are that Carbon V is O-1 (unlikely) or 1095. Numerous industry insiders insist it is 0170-6. Some spark tests seem to indicate 50100-B. Since 50100-B and 0170-6 are the same steel (see below), this is likely the current Carbon V. Carbon V knives are hardened to Rc 59.
Ceramics: Usually very very brittle, and cannot be sharpened by the user; however, they hold an edge well. Not as sharp as the best steels. Kevin “Mad Dog” McClung recently came out with a ceramic composite knife blade that much tougher than the previous ceramics, tough enough to actually be useful as a knife blade for most jobs. It is also user-sharpenable, and holds an edge incredibly well. Zirconia is a material of great hardness included in ceramic used in making ceramic blades and used as grain on grinding belts for grinding knives. Böker ceramic is zircon oxide.
Cera-Titan: Titanium, ceramic & silver. Gives up a little of ceramic’s edge holding for less brittleness, but better edge holding than top stainless. Holds an edge like ceramic with toughness closer to steel.
Cobalt & Stellite 6K: A flexible material with very good wear resistance, it is practically 100% corrosion resistant. Has an edge-holding capability that far exceeds even the best of today’s stainless steels. Stellite 6K, sometimes seen in knives, is a cobalt alloy. See Talonite. (David Boye)
CPM T420V (& CPM T440V): Offer about the best balance of properties for a stainless steel-that or BG-42. Holds an edge not as long or sharp as BG-42, but better than ATS-34. Edge holding ability is said to be 2 - 3x better than 440-C at 57 - 58RC. There are a few other powder metal steels that will give similar performance but none that are measurably better at edge holding. However, it’s difficult to get the edge there in the first place. Depending on heat treatment, expect to have to work a bit harder to sharpen these steels. Works at a lower hardness. Less tough than ATS-34. Exceptionally pure, clean steel. Both high in V. 420V is CPM’s follow-on to 440V, and with less Cr and almost double the V, is more wear-resistant and may be tougher than 440V. Rc 56-57.
CPM 10V: Another CPM steel. Edge holding ability is said to be 2-3x better than 440-C at 57-58Rc. Toughness equal to M-2 and D-2, with increased wear resistance.
CPM S30V: Premium American cutlery stainless. Powder made with uniform carbide distribution structure and clean steel properties. Excellent corrosion resistance. Extremely fine grain, excellent edge retention and superb edge qualities. The V content allows for the formation of vanadium carbides resulting in edge holding that is independent of hardness. Wide range of applications depending on heat treatment. 2-3 times the pry bar strength of 154 CM. Some judge superior to ATS-34 and BG-42. Hot new steel.
Damascus: Remarkable toughness and edge quality.
Damasteel RWL34/PMC27: Made with powder metal technology and has no welds as with traditional Damascus steels. Two or more different metals in powder form are fused together with heat and pressure. Damascene steels consist of two different steel grades, welded in over a hundred layers. After etching, one of the steel grades turns dark and a beautiful pattern appears on the surface.
D1.4: Solingen stainless.
D2: High carbon, high chrome tool die steel. THE outstanding high C, high Cr tool steel for general use. The most important characteristic of this air hardening tool die steel is its resistance to wear or abrasion. “D” series steels are classed as Cold Work Tool Steels, high C, high Cr type. Very tough, but may be a little less tough than some of the other steels mentioned. Holds an edge very well, possibly better than BG-42. High impact resistance. Takes hard use well (chopping). Cuts and holds an edge better than most steels, including M-2, 1095, AUS-8, ATS-34 and VG-10. Fairly high in Cr (12%). Good corrosion resistance, but will pit and rust. Sometimes called a “semi-stainless.” Does not take a beautiful finish. Outstanding knife steel; one of the few that is “tougher than a cob” at 60-61 Rc. Can be hardened far beyond the favored 60-61 Rc. 440XH is stainless D-2.
G-2 or GIN-1: Stainless with less C and more Cr and much less Mo than ATS-34. Offers nearly the same qualities as 154-CM or ATS-34 but is slightly more corrosion resistant. Very good stainless steel. Cheaper.
H1: A high-Cr stainless which offers 100% corrosion resistance in both salt and fresh water. Tradeoff is good edge quality and good edge toughness. Good rescue/dive/emergency knife.
L-6: A band saw steel that is very tough and holds an edge well, but rusts easily. Like O-1, it is a forgiving steel for the forger. If you’re willing to put up with the maintenance, this may be one of the very best steels available for cutlery, especially where toughness is desired.
M-2: High speed non-stainless steel. Very tough tool grade steel used for cutting steel. Tougher, sharper, and holds an edge better than ATS-34. High impact strength with incredible edge holding properties, but perhaps more brittle than typical premium blades. Extraordinary abrasion resistance and superb toughness. At a Rockwell hardness of 62 Rc it exhibits extreme toughness, with no signs of brittleness, and edge retention that is superior to most other blade materials. Works well at 62-66 Rc. Highly susceptible to corrosion and will rust unless properly maintained.
M-4: Chemical content nearly identical to M-2 except for 4% V instead of 2%; is capable of nearly twice the wear life.
MBS-26: Japanese oil-quenched stainless.
N690: An Austrian made stainless, comparable to 440C in performance and value. Keen edge qualities with excellent corrosion resistance.
O-1 and O-2: The most widely used general purpose oil hardening tool and die steels. Good combination of hardness and toughness. Strong, takes a very good edge, sharpens very easily. Superior edge to ATS-34 and 440-C. Very popular with forgers; has the reputation for being “forgiving.” Excellent steels that take and hold an edge superbly, and are very tough. Rusts easily. Use Rc 56-57.
RWL34: A Swedish powder metal stainless.
San Mai III: San Mai means “three layers.” Provides a superior blade with hard (higher carbon) stainless steel in the middle core/edge for a keen, long lasting edge inside two layers of tougher (lower-carbon) spring tempered stainless steel along the sides for flexibility and support. 25% stronger than AUS 8A.
Sandvik: A tool steel made in Sweden. Swedish steel has always been a premium steel for tools because the iron ore is very clean, that is, with very little sulfur or phosphorus.
Sandvik 13C-26: High carbon stainless tool steel.
Sandvik 19C27: High carbon, high chromium stainless. At 60-62 Rc the steel is highly wear resistant for edge holding and corrosion resistance.
Sandvik LV-04: Closed-die-forged high carbon stainless tool steel.
T15: A “Super High Speed Steel.” Not suitable for knives.
T5MOV: High carbon stainless.
Talonite/Stellite: A cobalt-chromium alloy formula based on Stellite, now owned by a Canadian firm. This material is many times as wear resistant as the finest knife steel, and contains no iron, which also makes it rust free and non-magnetic. Low on the Rockwell scale but excellent abrasion resistance. Will hold an edge as well as stellite; many times better than even the best stainless steels on the market today. Not hard to sharpen. Totally rust resistant and will hold surface qualities over hundreds of years of exposure to corrosive elements. Has a matrix of carbides in the alloy that give this material its performance characteristics. When the cutting edge feels dull to the touch, it will continue to cut due to the presence of the carbide matrix. Slightly softer than stainless steel, making it easier to sharpen. Ni 3% max, Si 2% max, Fe 3% max, Mn 2% max, Cr 28-32%, Mo 1.5% max, W 3.5-5.5%, C 0.9-1.4%, balance Co. See Cobalt & Stellite.
Titanium: Newer titanium alloys can be hardened near 50 Rc, and at that hardness seem to take something approaching a useful edge. Extremely rust-resistant, and non-magnetic. Slightly lighter than steel, extremely strong and resilient.
Vascowear: A very hard-to-find steel, with a high vanadium content. Extremely difficult to work and very wear-resistant. Out of production.
VG-10: Produced by a small foundry in Honshu island in Japan. An ingot steel. A good combination of “stuff” carefully blended. Cutting performance similar to ATS-34, but without quite the same brittleness and sharpening difficulties. Looks like a real winner of a steel, only seriously outperformed by carbon steels and particle stainless types. Edge holding below O-1 and D-2 on soft materials. Significantly superior to ATS-34 & 55 in corrosion resistance. In edge retention, at least as good as and often better than ATS steels. VG-10 is today’s hot new stainless steel for heavy duty folders, said to hold an edge better than ATS-34. It will certainly hold an edge better than AUS8A.
W-1: The same as W-2 except for the V content (W-1 has no V). Most files are made from W-1, also called a spring steel.
W-2: Reasonably tough and holds an edge well, due to its 0.2% V.
X15 T.N: French steel developed for jet engine ball bearings and scalpels. Superior rust resistance, with ample edge retention and an easy to maintain edge. Great for salt water environments.
XT70: Stainless, 55 Rc. (Katz)
XT80: Stainless, 59 Rc. Excellent ability to retain an edge, claimed better than 440-C or ATS-34. Probably a version of 440-C, with about 1% C and 12-14% Cr. (Katz)
Z60CDV14: A clean high carbon Swedish stainless. Higher in Ni and Mo than AUS-8, with a little less C. Good balance between ease of sharpening and edge retention.
9Cr14MoV: Chinese made steel similar to AUS-8. Value steel.
9Cr13CoMoV: Chinese made high-carbon stainless with increased Co for greater edge retention. High level of corrosion resistance. Good value.
154-CM: High carbon, high chrome/moly stainless, nearly identical to ATS-34, but possibly superior, made in USA by Crucible Steel for tough industrial applications. Also called 440-C Modified. Exceptional wear resistance. Has super-fine grain structure for excellent lasting edge sharpness. Normally hardened to around 60 Rc, it holds an edge very well and is tough enough even at that high hardness. Good all-around qualities. Great corrosion resistance, though not quite as rust resistant as the 400 series.
300 Series and “Surgical stainless”: Useless cutlery stainless.
“400 Series” Stainless: Probably 420J2 or 440-A, but there’s nothing to keep a company from using any 4xx steel, like 420 or 425-M, and calling it 400 Series Stainless.
410: Worse than 420J2
420J2: Softer, cheaper, ~0.15% carbon stainless tool steel, with Rc <53-55??
420: Lower carbon content (<0.5%) than the 440 series makes this steel extremely soft, and it doesn’t hold an edge well. Used often for diving knives, as it is extremely stain resistant. Also used often for very inexpensive knives. Outside of salt water use, it is too soft to be a good choice for a utility knife.
420HC: 420 High Carbon. Buck has ion fused some of its 420HC SS blades with titanium (or zirconium?) nitride (TiN) to produce a surface that is >80 Rc and holds an edge five times longer than standard blades. Performs well with proper heat treatment.
425-M (& 425?) & 12C27: Both are very similar to 440-A. 425-M has 0.5% C. 12C27 (0.6% C) is a Scandanavian steel used often in Finish and Norwegian knives. Cheap stainless. Soft and malleable?
440-A: Mid grade stainless. Most “plain” 440 is 440-A. Rc 56-59.
440-C: High grade (Solingen) high chromium stainless that holds edge well, not too hard to sharpen, doesn’t rust. Terrific balance of good hardness and corrosion resistance. Better than 440-A. Most popular. Use Rc 58-60.
440-C Modified: Same as 154-CM.
440-A, 440-B, 440-C: The carbon content (and hardenability) of this stainless steel goes up in order from A (.75%) to B (.9%) to C (1.2%). 440-C is an excellent, high-end stainless steel, usually hardened to around 56-60 Rc. All three resist rust well, with 440-A being the most rust resistant, and 440-C the least. A knife marked with just “440” is probably the less expensive 440-A; if a manufacturer had used the more expensive 440-C, he’d want to advertise that. Generally 440-A (and similar steels) is just good enough for everyday use, especially with a good heat treat (SOG). 440-B is a very solid performer and 440-C is excellent.
440XH: Stainless D-2.
SAE rates steel with a four-digit number. The first two digits refer to the steel “group,” the second pair to the amount of carbon present in 10ths of a percent. 1095 ~0.95% C, 52100 ~1.0% C, 5160 ~0.60% C. In the SAE system, steels with letter designations (W-2, A-2) are tool steels. In the AISI steel system, 10xx is carbon steel, any other steels are alloy steels. Ex: the 50xx series are chromium steels.
10XX, 11XX, 12XX, 15XX: The carbon steel group, a basic multi-use steel. Most standard OEM axles are 1040-grade. These grades all carry from 1.00 to 1.65% Mn. Generally very ductile but not particularly strong. They require careful hardening to be used as a bearing surface.
The 10-series; 1095 (and 1084, 1070, 1060, 1050, etc.): 1095 is the most popular for knives. In order from 1095-1050, you generally go from more carbon to less, from better edge holding to less edge holding, and tough to tougher to toughest. 1060 and 1050 are used often for swords.
1040: Carbon steel used for axles. Can be made strong with proper heat treatment. Cost effective. Avg. yield 110,000 psi, avg. tensile 125,000 psi.
1050: Carbon steel used for axles. Extra C vs. 1040 makes it respond better to heat treatment. More expensive than 1040, but still cost effective. Avg. yield 140,000 psi, avg. tensile 160,000 psi.
1084: A good all around steel that holds an edge well when properly hardened and drawn.
1095: Sort of the “standard” carbon steel, not too expensive and performs well. Reasonably tough and holds an edge very well. Rusts easily. A simple steel, which contains only two alloying elements: ~0.95% C and 0.4% Mn. The various Kabars are usually 1095 with a black coating.
1541H: Carbon steel used for high performance auto parts. The 15-series carbon steels have more Mn than the 10-series. This makes it respond even better to heat treatment. The “H” indicates a dash of extra Si, which increases hardness. 1541H is more expensive to produce than other carbon steels, but is still cost effective based on its strength. Avg. yield 160,000 psi, avg. tensile 180,000 psi.
5150: Medium carbon, low alloy steel. Ideal for heat treated blades that have a very thick cross section such as tomahawks, axes, etc. Use 55-60 Rc. Extremely tough and impact resistant. (Cold Steel ‘hawks)
5160: A tough, springy steel popular with forgers, it is extremely popular now and a very high-end steel. Essentially a simple spring steel with Cr added for hardenability. Has good edge holding, but is known especially for its outstanding toughness (like L-6). Often used for swords (hardened in the low 50s Rc) and large knives because of its toughness, and is also used for hard use knives (hardened up near the 60s Rc).
52XX: Chromium steel group. Contains 1.45% Cr. A strong yet flexible alloy.
52100: A non-stainless ball-bearing steel used only by forgers. Similar to 5160 (though it has around 1% C vs. 5160 ~0.60%), but holds an edge better. Less tough than 5160, however. Exhibits many of the same advantages as BG-42. Used often for hunting knives and other knives where the user is willing to trade off a little of 5160’s toughness for better edge holding.
interesting for a knife nut I did gather that I want a A-2 or ATS-34.
I don't see how he ain't dead from botulism. Of course, it's probably gummy bear worms and COOKED beef ribs instead of raw Zebra, TV ya know.
