Readers often ask me what type of steel is used in my Damascus knife. They also ask what is the best and sharpest steel for making knives.
This is a simple and complex question. Unlike ancient times when there were only a limited number of options such as Wootz steel, modern industry has produced numerous high-quality steels with their own advantages, disadvantages, and ideal usage scenarios.
Steel is a term that refers to iron-carbon alloys with carbon content ranging from 0.02% to 2.11%. These alloys are often enriched with other elements that improve specific properties, depending on the intended application.
There are many types of steel that can be used in knife making. The most common types used for blades are typically categorized into:
Tool steel
Hard alloy steel is commonly used to produce various cutting tools. It is characterized by its high hardness, high wear resistance and good toughness.
Tool steel can be divided into three categories: carbon tool steel, alloy tool steel and high-speed tool steel. Popular tool steels include the CPM series such as D2, O1 and Crucible, as well as the advanced M4.
High-carbon tool steels have excellent edge retention and are suitable for making small, straight knives. On the other hand, tool steels with slightly lower carbon content but high toughness are ideal for making medium and large straight knives for cutting.
Carbon steel
Iron-carbon alloys with carbon content ranging from 0.0218% to 2.11% are called carbon steel. It is one of the most used types of steel.
In the context of knife making, carbon steel is often used for coarse purposes that require high toughness and durability, and is commonly found in survival knives and machetes.
The main advantage of carbon steel is its ease of heat treatment, which facilitates high-grade sharpening. However, a disadvantage of carbon steel is its poor resistance to rust, which means it is prone to corrosion. To solve this problem, some blade surfaces are coated.
The most popular type of carbon steel for knife making is 1095, which is often used in traditional European hunting knives, large paring knives, and military knives. Other popular types of carbon steel include 1040 and 1060.
Stainless steel
Carbon steel is often reinforced with chromium and other elements to improve its corrosion resistance, but this often comes at the cost of reducing its toughness.
Stainless steel is commonly used for everyday carry (EDC) tools. The most popular types of stainless steel for knife making include 440C, 154CM, AUS, ATS-34, and the Crucible SxxV series steel.
It is important to note that a steel must contain at least 13% chromium to be considered true stainless steel.
Damascus Steel
Damascus steel, known for its beautiful patterns, is highly appreciated in the cutting tool industry, especially in the production of high-quality cutting tools.
Modern Damascus steel is produced by combining different pure metals through the bending and forging process. This process creates knife blanks that are both rigid and flexible.
Compared to ordinary plain steel, Damascus steel offers a unique combination of hardness and toughness, as well as its aesthetic and mystical charm. It is a highly sought after laminated composite steel.
There are also some special steels that are suitable for knife making and are particularly popular among knife enthusiasts, such as the following.
Steel spring
Spring steel refers to a special type of steel alloy used to produce various springs and other elastic components.
The biggest advantage of spring steel is its high toughness and has better straightening capabilities compared to carbon tool steel. This makes it ideal for making large outdoor tools.
Additionally, spring steel is affordable and readily available, making it an economical option.
Bearing steel
The steel used in the production of balls, rollers and bearing rings is one of the most demanding steel types in production, requiring high and uniform hardness, good wear resistance, toughness and rust resistance.
Bearing steel with a carbon content of around 1% is ideal for making various large and small cutters, and the tempering requirements are not overly strict.
Heavy rail steel
Heavy rail steel is used for the production of heavy rails. It has adequate strength, hardness, wear resistance and a certain degree of toughness, making it suitable for rough knives for outdoor use.
However, it is important to note that mild rail steel is not suitable for cutting tools due to its low carbon content and lack of hardness.
With so many different types of steel that can be used in knife making, there is no single answer to which is best. When choosing tool steel, it is important to comprehensively consider several factors.
Purpose of the tool
The first step in choosing the right knife steel is to determine the task for which the knife will be used. Will it be used for hunting or as an everyday carry knife? Will it be used in the kitchen or as a machete? The intended use of the knife is the main determining factor in selecting the appropriate steel.
Heat treatment method
Even the best cutting tool steel must undergo heat treatment to fully reach its potential. In fact, low-quality steel that has been properly heat-treated can sometimes outperform high-quality steel that has been improperly heat-treated.
Blade shape and grinding method
Blade shape and sharpening method significantly affect a knife's functionality and cutting performance. Without proper blade geometry and grinding, even the best steel will not be able to show its strengths.
