Knife Steel . . . Know Your Options!
September 23, 2011 – 1:00 amIf you reference the AISI steel naming system, 10xx denotes carbon steel. All others will be an alloy. The 50xx denotes chromium alloyed steels.
In the SAE designation system, letters specify tool steels.
Often, the last numbers in the name of a steel will show the carbon content. For example, 52100 has 1% carbon, while 1095 has .95% carbon, and 5160 has .60% carbon.
Carbon is an essential hardening element, and why knife makers look for a high carbon steel. However, using any more carbon than is absolutely required for hardness, will render the steel a lot more brittle.
Carbon steel hunting knives are usually the choice of knife enthusiasts who desire tough, hard, wear and break resistance blades.
Carbon steel blades may easily be touched up utilizing a knife steel or different kind of sharpening rod. Carbon steel simply makes a better blade, but it requires additional care. Knives need to be very hard, which means that the steel needs to have some carbon in it.
10xx Series
1095 is the most well-known steel for knives. It is a simple steel consisting of .95% carbon, and .4% manganese. Other 10 series steels are used for knife making like 1084, 1070, 1060, and 1050 etc. Each of these steels are decreasing in carbon content, and therefore is also decreasing in wear resistance. At the same time, as the carbon content goes down the toughness goes up. As such, a few of the lower carbon content designations are more popular for swords.
O-1 steel is a different high carbon steel which offers razor blade sharp edges but dulls quicker than A2 Steel. O-1, like A2 carries a 1% carbon content. It’s got 1.35% manganese, .5% chromium, .35% silicon, and .5% tungsten. O-1 steel is more forgiving to those people who are not as accomplished in getting a decent edge. To sum up, it’s easier/faster to sharpen to a razor sharp edge than some of the other choices, but doesn’t endure abuse as well. O-1 is extremely well-liked by forgers and blade smiths. It is tough, although not as tough as 5160.
L-6 is akin to O-1. It’s essentially band saw steel. It is perhaps the very best steel for a knife if maintenance isn’t a problem. It rusts very easily, but maintains an edge very well. It is also very tough. It is also a choice of forgers.
W-2 is relatively tough and holds an edge well due to its .25% vanadium. It also has .25% manganese, and silicon. It is not as common or well-liked.
A2 steel is almost a stainless steel. At (5%) it does not possess quite enough chromium. It has 1% carbon, .6% Manganese, 1% molybdenum, and .2% Vanadium. It isn’t prone to rust. A2 steel is popular for combat knives due to its toughness. The toughness of the edge of the A2 steel is enhanced by cryogenically treating the blades at -320 degrees Fahrenheit. A2 steel is much harder than O-1 carbon steel and although more challenging to hone, it keeps an edge longer. It performs best with a bevel somewhere between 30 and 35 degrees. The challenge with A2 steel is that it has a tendency to fracture more readily when the bevel is ground less than 30 degrees. A2 is tougher than D2 and M2, but has much less wear resistance.
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M2 Steel is a fine-grained molybdenum/tungsten high-speed tool steel. It’s .85% carbon, .25% manganese, 4.2% chromium, .30% silicon, 5% molybdenum, 6.35% tungsten, and 1.9% vanadium. It’s an exceptional choice for high temperature applications. For instance, the annealing temperature of M2 steel is around 1000 F. It is slightly tougher and more wear resistant than D2, nonetheless, M2 rusts more easily.
“D” series steels are classed as cold work tool steels. D2 steel is a premium tool steel. With 1.5% carbon content it is better at keeping an edge than less exotic stainless steels. D2 includes a fairly high chromium content (11.5%) and is occasionally referred to as a “semi-stainless”. It is a well respected, air hardened, high carbon, high chromium tool steel. It’s 1% molybdenum, and .9% vanadium. It possesses exceptionally high wear resistance properties. D2 steel is among the toughest knife blades you will get, and is a favorite of the best made to order Knife makers. Anyone who has ever utilized a good D2 steel blade in the field, raves about the steels cutting ability, toughness, and edge holding properties. In other words, D2 steel can deliver one of the best blade stocks available for a working knife.
5160 steel is a common spring steel. It’s basically 1060 with 1% of chromium added to make it deep hardening. It’s used in swords, axes or other high-impact tools. 5160 Steel is popular today for a number of knife styles, but is usually put to use in bigger blades that need more toughness. It is fast and simple to sharpen, and, when resistance to lateral forces is needed, 5160 is a champion.
50100-B is the AISI designation of the same steel as 0170-6. The B designates vanadium has been added. This steel is a good chrome-vanadium alloy that’s similar in properties to O-1, however it is much more affordable. It’s essentially 52100 with 1/3 less chromium.
52100 is frequently compared to 5160. It has a little more carbon content than 5160, and therefore holds an edge better. It isn’t as tough though. The tradeoff is in wear resistance. Quite a few hunting knives are now made out of this steel.
Stainless steel is specified as such if it’s got greater than 13% chromium. However, the ASM Metals Handbook says it only has to be greater than 10%. There are also different numbers thrown around. This difference though, is most likely due to the level of free chromium readily available. It’s the chromium that is not tied up in carbides that form the stain resistant chromium oxide on top of the steel. Keep in mind that all steel is subject to rust, but stainless is much more resistant to oxidation. Stainless knives are simple to clean, but are often produced from less expensive alloys that are soft and don’t hold an edge well, necessitating frequent sharpening which can reduce the life of a blade. Stainless steel’s bad reputation for knife making established before 196O is no longer entirely justified. There are many stainless alloys with varying corrosion-resistant qualities which make it a great material for knife blades.
420 and 420HC
420 is an exceptionally soft steel due to the less than .5% carbon content. It won’t keep an edge very well, but it is very stain resistant, and is frequently used for more affordable knives. It’s also often utilized to make diving knives. 420 HC is designed to be more like 440A by including more carbon.
440A, 440B, and 440C
This series of steels increases in carbon content from A – .75%, to B – .9%, to C – 1.2%. 440C steel, if hardened properly, is a superb knife steel. It’s very tough, and has good edge holding qualities. It doesn’t hold an edge as well as ATS-34, but is more stain resistant. This complete series is rather rust resistant. 440A is most rust resistant and 440C the least.
AUS-6, AUS-8, and AUS-10
This is a Japanese series of steels that will roughly compare with the above 440 Series. The carbon content increasing from AUS-6 – .65%, to AUS-8 – .75%, to AUS-10 – 1.1%. AUS-6 would more directly compare to the less expensive low-end 420. AUS-8 is really a middle grade steel like GIN-1 or ATS-55. AUS-10 competes with higher end steels, and generally measures up well with 440C. It has slightly less chromium than 440C, but all three steels of this series have vanadium put in. Vanadium enhances the wear resistance and the grain, which allows these steels the ability to be sharpened to a very fine edge. Vanadium also enhances wear resistance. These steels are often referred to as 6A, 8A, and 10A.
GIN-1, also called G-2 compares in general to AUS-8, and ATS-55. It has less carbon, and far less molybdenum than ATS-34. It is a little higher in chromium, and usually is utilized in the cheaper knives.
ATS-34 steel is universally acknowledged for its edge holding and taking abilities. It’s a Japanese steel that favorably compares to the U.S. version, 154 CM, which is not nearly as well-liked. ATS-34 is definitely stronger than 440 steel so breaking the tip on this steel will be not as likely, but it isn’t as rust resistant. ATS-34 is usually, either hot or cold rolled depending on its thickness, but both are likely annealed (heat treated).
ATS-55 is a grade behind ATS-34, simply because it does not have molybdenum. With no molybdenum, it does not hold an edge as well, and is less resistant to rust, and has less wear resistance. It compares favorably with GIN-1, and AUS-8
BG-42 is gaining popularity. It’s also more costly than ATS-34, which might limit its popularity. Due to the addition of vanadium, and twice as much manganese as ATS-34, it’ll maintain a substantially better edge, and will also provide better toughness than ATS-34. It is a little harder to work.
S30V, S60V and S90V
This series of steels is packed with a greater amount of alloys because of the particle metallurgy procedure that is quite different from conventional steel manufacturing methods. These are high vanadium knives, and compare favorably with BG-42. They’re possibly more wear resistant than any other stainless steel. However, they are a lot more costly than BG-42, and even more difficult to work. This relegates them mostly to the experienced custom knife maker sphere. S60V is often referred to as CPM T440V, and S90V as CPM T420V.
About the Author:
By: Dennis Darger
Dennis N. Darger at Wet Jet Precision can be reached toll free (888) 707-5077 to discuss cutting your custom knife blades blanks. Remember waterjet cutting is a cold cutting method and does not produce a Heat Affected Zone. Services are nationwide. View their work at www.my-waterjet-cutting-service.com/how_to_make_knives.html and/or email Dennis at dennis@my-waterjet-cutting-service.com Copyright 05-06-10. Article may be reprinted if it is reprinted in its entirety.
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