So what is the best steel for knives? Below I have shown the difference in carbide volume between AEB-L, CPM-10V, and Rex 121 to get an idea of how much more carbide there is in the high edge retention steels. All three of these steels havechromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and tungsten components and will perform well in myriad tasks. Steel is a combination of iron and carbon with other elements. 8Cr13MoV is comparable to the Japanese AUS-8 but containing slightly higher carbon content. Wear resistance comes from hardness and carbides, hard particles formed between carbon and another element like Vanadium or Tungsten. If the knife youre looking at has a 154CM blade, youre fine. Cool! Notice that with the same edges on the same media, the 9Cr18Mov from Real Steel performs about as well as the average Chinese D2. This makes it a great choice if you don't have . I am particularly interested in researching knife steel, knife properties, and brands. Quick-reference guide: Know your knife steels - KnivesShipFree With a high level ofedge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness, it does most everything quite well. But yes, I would assume that the general performance would still be relatively similar between them without evidence to the contrary. Low Carbon steels like AEB-L wont hold up to wood cutting even though it can hit 64 hard, it just doesnt have enough Carbon. There has been some internet controversy over the grinding and heat treat of this steel. D2 is carbon steel that has high toughness and durability. Here, youll learn the different factors that go into each steel, ratings for a wide variety of steel alloys, and youll get some recommendations for types of knives different types of steel work well for. Read more about how it works here. I have two quick questions, rust resistance.Best of all most knives made from this steel can be had for well under $75.In my opinion Sandvik 14c28n is a better overall steel than that of Aus8,420hc,or ANY of the . I have a question about the chart This is a virtually stain-proof steel suitable for all sorts of aquatic environments. Compare 20 Grades of Knife Steel - ThoughtCo 14C28N Vs D2 . In general, the more carbide the steel has and the larger the carbides the lower is the toughness. GiantMouse Vox/Anso ACE Iona Liner Lock Knife, Muley Freaks Erik Van Woerkom Charged With Felony Possession of Trophy Mule Deer, The Biggest Improvement to My Camp Kitchen Is a Mini Pizza Oven (But Not for Pizza), Propane Traeger, Moosejaw Coolers, Hybrid HOKAs, Adventure Chess, and More Emerging Gear, Avalanche Outside British Columbia Resort Buries 10, Kills 3 Heli-Skiers, Netflix Unveils First Trailer for Tour de France Series. I test corrosion resistance of steels by heat treating 1 x 1.5 inch coupons, finishing to about 400 grit, and then spraying with water. Time and use have proven this to be quite accurate. This is an old high-carbon (non-stainless) steel. Instead, Vargo titanium uses a unique material called sintered titanium-ceramic alloy. Fix-It Sticks Compact Ratcheting Multi-Tool Review, Toughness, Wear Resistance, Corrosion Resistance. Not every element is shown in the charts. thanks thats interesting. The table shows combinations of knife steel properties for different classes of steel. Or even if they try to be more open to importance of toughness, the good reputation of the high edge retention steels means that they get inflated toughness ratings along with it. Because of the material difference, the blades differ in toughness, edge retention, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening. The only thing putting me off immediately buying the p135 is the 14c28n steel. In general, higher carbon steels have higher edge retention but lower toughness. It can dull your edge, cause pitting, and damage the structural integrity of your knife. How Is 14C28N Steel for Knives? 1) the cvn number is just that, a number. Knifemakers use dozens of steel types to create knife blades. As a side note, pure tungsten carbide blades (from brands like Sandrin) can have very high levels of edge retention, but they are not made of steel. AEB-L and 14C28N are the best in the high toughness group. It boasts an incredible ability to continue cutting long after it seems dull. And its not made of steel. Therefore powder metallurgy is not necessary for certain steels, or could even be slightly detrimental. [Steel Knife Review], What is 14c28n steel? You can see that 64 Rc AEB-L has both lower toughness and edge retention than 61 Rc MagnaCut, so I feel that in general you get a better sense of where the steels fit with a single point. Lets talk about the clip-on pocket knife. D2 holds it for longer. Stainless steels are more resistant to corrosion but remember that stainless steels stain less, and most of them will still rust in the right conditions. Sorry, most of my previous comment was borderline word salad. I made most of my leather knives from O1v (O1 with .20V) that I hold at 1475 for 15 mins and quench in 120-130 F AAA oil and Kevin Cashen is where those parameters came from btw. Its a very hard steel and is exceptionally difficult to sharpen. I hope you will find value in the articles on this website. XHP is an exceptionally well-balanced steel with excellent all-around attributes. Note:There is a powder-metal version called CPM154 thats purer than the non-powder version, making it easier for knifemakers to grind. Hi Larrin, thanks so much for writing this blog and putting so much reliable information into such an accessible form. Low Carbon steels like AEB-L wont hold up to wood cutting even though it can hit 64 hard, it just doesnt have enough Carbon.. A2 knives need care taken to avoid rust and are often coated to inhibit corrosion. Hammering through hickory, digging at roots in sandy soil, and cutting around bone did nothing to chip, dent, or roll the edge of my 3V knives. AEB-L is rarely found on production knives but can be found on custom knives easily. False treatment and geometry upheld by Made in USA is like buying 8Cr from China (except late A.G) My personal experience tops with Vanadis 4E, CPM-M4, RWL-34 and the likes. For the steels that I rated I give them a single rating rather than a range based on different heat treatments that can be performed. So for most steels they are given a rating at around 59-62 Rc, apart from a few steels that are never used at that hardness. LC200N is produced with a special technique to add high nitrogen, giving steel excellent corrosion resistance on the top! D2 knives, on the other hand, are challenging to sharpen. Rex 45 The only thing putting me off immediately buying the p135 is the 14c28n steel. But as the market has grown and newer steels have come out, it has fallen in price and prestige. On the other hand, in d2 air-hardness steel, you cant differentially temper the blade-like other high carbon steel because the steel can also be challenging to sharpen. Toughness and edge retention are generally opposing properties and it is difficult to improve both of them at the same time. If you are a newbie to steel knives and the differences are not yet clear, come with us to the next section as we look into each knifes characteristics, pros, and cons. 14c28n Steel - Is it Good for the knife? (Composition Analysis) Extra kudos for your mathmatical steel composition to edge holding model thats really impressive work. looking at getting a nice larger flipper for a little under 100 AUD. And we list budget-friendly knives that have a professional style and grace to them. 14C28N steel is known to offer among the best if not the best toughness in knife steels out there. Despite its wonderful performance, XHP is actually not terribly expensive compared to other high-end, all-around performers. Anyway, astute comment, but edge retention does mean a lot in woodworking. Thanks! The hardness level of steel is determined using a universal scale called the "Rockwell C Test", commonly called the Rockwell hardness scale (HRC). The bump in hardness comes from precipitation of fine carbides in the steel, which include chromium carbides. CPM 4V The steel is similar to Sandviks 13C26. Only a few years ago Elmax was pricey, but competition has driven it down to reasonable levels, making it a decent value. How long sharpen? Non-stainless steels can be heat treated to 66 Rc or even higher depending on the particular steel. Would be great if some manufactures changed their steels based on this information. The study of steel is now so complex and nuanced that one can acquire a graduate degree in the subject and still learn new things every day. Corrosion Resistance: D2 steel has a higher chromium content than 8Cr13MoV, which makes it better at resisting corrosion and wear. While 9Cr18MoV steel is highly corrosion resistant due to the addition of Cr, and Mo. Should you continue to scroll further, you may find yourself lost in a seemingly endless list of knife steel wealth and knowledge. D2 is another medium-range tool steel. The Sandvik 14C28N has a very thin and sharp blade that is perfect for slicing through things. Oh, thats great, thanks. Interesting. H2 A new steel from Crucible, SPY27 launched in 2020 in the Spyderco Native 5and Para 3. So presumably, wear resistance would be in the 3.5-4 range and toughness in the 5.5-6 range. I also added a few more steels in this study. Below are some great ways to make your knife your own. Most of the user loves this one that has received a lot of attention on this site. For example, Bohler M390, CTS-204P, and CPM-20CV are all nearly identical and indistinguishable in practice. M390 Its an anomaly in the knife world and quite puzzling to use. The reason is because sharpening and edge geometry will also greatly control properties. Like 154CM, there is a newer version, S35VN, which shares many of the same attributes as S30V but is easier to craft into a knife thanks to niobium. The main downside is the steel is more difficult to heat treat and cant go harder than about 60 or perhaps 61 Rc. Its an update of its 12C27 and 13C26 steels, which were developed for use in shaving razors. and yet millons of knives are being made out of 1.4116 (aisi 420mov?) The ultra high corrosion resistance steels Vanax or LC200N max out around 60-61 Rc instead. My test is for comparing different steels, not necessarily for a go/no go test for saltwater applications. Without any confusion, you can purchase this set that has a slim, versatile, modified drip-point blade with good slicing capabilities. Its not a particularly great cutter, being poor at retaining an edge. and corrosion resistance than the 420HC steel. This is an American-made powder steel produced by Crucible and developed specifically for knives with the aid of the knife guru Chris Reeve (maker of the vaunted Sebenza, among other gems). What is pulling that line high and to the right? [Complete Steel Guide], What is Vg-10 steel?- [Steel Knife Review], The Difference Between 440c steel vs d2: Compared guide, Is 8cr13mov Good Knife Steel [Complete Steel Guide], Amazon Best Sellers in Pocket Knives & Folding Knives. Below shows pictures of a 61 Rc knife that was impacted with a 3/16 rod at different energy levels. A lot of custom makers also like S110V, including the great RJ Martin. It shows 3 stainless steels from 750-800tcc but the edge retention graph only has 1 SS in that range, S90v. Its used for combat knives, bushcrafting knives, and other applications where having a supertough blade trumps the need for edge retention and corrosion resistance. the problem is in the innumerable combinations of grades, grains sizes and coatings available. It mainly made for knife and it high in Chromium for excellent corrosion resistance. There are a few other complicating factors such as carbon in solution and plate martensite, especially in low alloy steels such as described in this article. Here, we break down how to choose a flashlight, including best flashlight LEDs, batteries, designs, and more. 14C28N steel is not very hard steel which makes it easier to sharpen. When it comes to handle material, both knives have options available in either plastic or metal. The excellent corrosion resistance properties of 14C28N are attributed to the high amounts of chromium in its composition. In other words, Rex 121 would be the most difficult to sharpen and 5160 and 8670 would be the easiest. and why would anyone want to use it when 420HC looks so much better for a simple stainless steel option. My other knives are a Real Steel E77 8cr14mov. Steels like CPM MagnaCut, CPM M4, CPM 4V, and CPM CruWear fit in this category. Do honing steels as used on kitchen knives actually do anything useful? And for high toughness you want little or no carbide. We looked at common steels used by popular knife brands to help you select the right material for your blade. Sign up to receive GearJunkie content direct to your inbox. the following is not a critique, just a few thoughts to maybe put the relationships into a wider perspective and point to additional dimensions. There is an acceptable range for every element so this doesnt mean that 1084 will always have exactly 0.84% carbon. 440A has more chromium in solution along with a small addition of Mo, but has significant amounts of carbide so the two are an interesting comparison. I have a (relatively) short introduction before getting into the ratings with a few important things to put them into context. Also, if you want a fishing knife, 14c28n steel will survive better in wet areas than D2. we dont know. Still looking forward to magnacut making it into high volume production and use. 14C28N vs D2 - knifebasics.com Thanks to its very high hardness (64-66 HRc compared to the average of 58-62 HRc), ZDP-189 can be ground thinner and sharpened less often.