Choosing the right knife steel can make a significant difference in a knife’s performance, durability, and ease of maintenance. Different steels provide unique properties that make them ideal for specific uses, whether you're looking for an EDC pocket knife, a durable hunting knife, or a high-quality chef’s knife. This guide covers the most popular knife blade steels and their benefits, helping you make an informed decision when buying your next knife.

1. 440C Steel – Affordable and Corrosion-Resistant

440C steel is a high-carbon stainless steel known for affordability and good corrosion resistance, making it ideal for pocket knives and hunting knives.

2. AUS-8 Steel – Tough and Easy to Sharpen

AUS-8 is a Japanese stainless steel popular for EDC Damascus knives and outdoor knives due to its toughness, ease of sharpening, and good corrosion resistance.

3. VG-10 Steel – Ideal for Kitchen Knives

VG-10 steel is a high-quality Japanese stainless steel known for sharpness and corrosion resistance, making it a popular choice for chef’s knives and high-performance kitchen knives.

4. D2 Steel – Semi-Stainless with Great Edge Retention

D2 tool steel is a high-carbon, high-chromium steel with excellent hardness and wear resistance, making it ideal for tactical knives and fixed-blade knives.

5. 154CM Steel – High-Quality American Stainless Steel

154CM steel is an American-made stainless steel with excellent toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance, making it suitable for folding knives and tactical knives.

Developed by Crucible Industries, S30V steel is a high-end option for premium knives, known for its edge retention and toughness, making it perfect for hunting knives and EDC knives.

7. M390 Steel – Maximum Wear Resistance

M390 is a premium stainless steel known for its wear resistance and edge retention, making it ideal for tactical knives and collectible knives that require longevity and minimal maintenance.

8. CPM S35VN Steel – An Upgrade to S30V

CPM S35VN, a premium steel developed by Crucible Industries, is an improvement on S30V, adding niobium for enhanced toughness and ease of sharpening. It’s a favorite for high-end EDC knives and tactical knives.

9. Magnacut Steel – New and Ultra-Resistant

Magnacut is a recently developed, high-performance stainless steel by Crucible Industries. Known for its balance of toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, it’s quickly gaining popularity in EDC knives and survival knives.

10. 5160 Steel – Known for Toughness and Flexibility

5160 steel is a spring steel alloy known for its flexibility and durability, often used in outdoor knives and survival knives where impact resistance is crucial.

11. Damascus Steel – Aesthetic and Durable

Damascus steel is known for its unique wavy patterns and excellent balance of durability and sharpness, making it popular for collectible knives and luxury kitchen knives.

12. 1095 Carbon Steel – Reliable for Tough Use

1095 carbon steel is a high-carbon steel known for its toughness and edge retention, making it popular for bushcraft knives and survival knives.

13. High Carbon Stainless Steel – Balanced Performance

High carbon stainless steel combines the sharpness of carbon steel with the corrosion resistance of stainless, making it ideal for kitchen knives and hunting knives.

14. N690 Steel – European Stainless Steel

N690 steel is an Austrian stainless steel known for its fine edge retention and excellent corrosion resistance, commonly used in kitchen knives and folding knives.

15. Sandvik 14C28N – Great for Everyday Carry

Sandvik 14C28N is a stainless steel developed in Sweden with excellent corrosion resistance and edge stability, making it popular for EDC knives and kitchen knives.

Choosing the Right Knife Steel for Your Needs

Knowing the properties of different knife steels can help you select the best blade for your needs. Whether you’re seeking a premium EDC knife with excellent edge retention, a kitchen knife that resists corrosion, or a tough outdoor knife for rugged use, the right steel makes all the difference. Explore our collection of knives featuring these high-quality steels to find the perfect tool for your lifestyle.