The Complete Guide To The Best EDC Knife Steel

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned everyday carry veteran, picking out a new pocket knife can be an absurdly daunting task if you’re not 100% certain you already know what you want. From the size and shape to the materials that go into their construction, there’s a lot out there to consider. And that goes double if you’ve got a specific purpose in mind, as the knife you end up carrying could end up being a much more important tool than for which you’ve prepared (like if you get stuck in a survival situation).

One of the most important things to pay attention to when shopping for a new knife, however, is the steel used in the creation of the tool’s blade. Truly, it may very well be of the utmost importance to the overall lifespan and usefulness of your knife. But how does one discern which steels are the best for an EDC tool? We can tell you firsthand, it’s a tough path to walk. Lucky for you, we’ve done a lot of the legwork to help you toward acquiring a better understanding of the world of blades below in our ultimate guide to EDC knife steel. Whether you’re hunting for a beefy outdoor-ready bowie knife or you just need a budget folder to get you through your day, the following explanation will set your mind at ease.

Of all the parts that go into the creation of an everyday carry knife, we’d hazard a guess and say that – to pretty much everyone – the blade is the most important piece. And that’s probably because, without it, the tool has little to no functionality left. Yes, without a blade, it’s not even a knife. More than that, however, the steel that goes into the creation of a specific blade is going to affect a number of different factors, including the knife’s intended purpose, its price, the level of difficulty of maintaining it, and even its replaceability. So, when searching for an EDC blade, the steel out of which it is created should be weighed heavily at the top of the list when of consideration factors. Granted, some compromises may be made here and there when the decision becomes a little more granular and pared-down, but basic functionality and purpose depend almost entirely upon the quality of the steel used to make a knife.

While knowing that you need to pay attention to your knife steel when making an EDC blade purchase is good, it’s not everything you need to know – not by a long shot. The problem is, there’s no real system in place to let you know the quality of a steel just by glancing at the name of the metal. This is because there is no standardization when it comes to the names of steels. You see, companies that manufacture the material name it based on their own internal systems – meaning there’s no relation between what one brand calls their metal versus the names of others.

That being said, there are still some factors you can watch for that will give you a better idea as to the quality of the steel in a given knife. One of these metrics is completely standardized (meaning it’s associated with a strict numerical value), whereas others are more of a roundabout figure to give you a better idea as to what you’re getting. We’ve outlined the most common and important ones below:

Corrosion Resistance: Determined primarily by the amount of chromium in a given blade, corrosion resistance refers to how well a knife can resist environmental deterioration – most commonly, rust. Stainless steel is the primary example of a corrosion resistant steel. The higher the content of chromium (or other corrosion resistant alloying elements), the longer and more effectively a blade can keep from rusting. This is, of course, altered by kinds of exposure. For instance, a knife that is used in a thick fog will resist the moisture better than a diving knife that’s taken into salt water. While a percentage of alloying elements might be listed, environmental factors keep this metric from having a solid numerical value.

Durability: Including both overall durability and resistance to wear, durability determines a blade’s toughness, as well as abrasion and adhesion resistance. Toughness can be referred to both as the blade’s resistance to chipping or cracking, but also might refer to its ability to flex without snapping. Abrasion resistance refers to how much friction a blade can withstand without losing mass, whereas adhesion resistance is the measure of how well a blade keeps from collecting other materials on its surface.

Edge Retention: Fairly simple and straightforward, edge retention refers to how well a blade can keep a cutting edge. There are other factors, however, that go into determining the overall value of a blade when it comes to edge retention. For instance, softer blades might not hold and edge very well or for very long, but they can be sharpened to a razor’s edge very easily. Blades that hold an edge for a much longer time, by contrast, can be extremely difficult to sharpen and are less resistant to chipping (which can be harder to fix).

Hardness: The only metric regarding knife blades that has an associated numerical value, hardness is a determination of how well a steel resists indentation. To gauge this, steel is placed in a pneumatic machine that forcefully indents the metal – after which the depth of the indentation is measured. That depth is given a value which holds a place on the Rockwell scale (also called HRC). The benefit of a harder blade steel is excellent overall strength. However, high hardness steels also tend to be more brittle and prone to chipping or snapping under too much pressure.

Iron is the base metal that makes up steel. In fact, it’s the main element and one of only two elements that are absolutely necessary to create the metal. The other is carbon. This unique combination of elements creates a substance that is greater than the sum of its parts and has been an important part of human civilization since around the first century, when it was created in China. Technically speaking, as steel is a combination of two or more elements, it qualifies as an alloy on its own. But, iron and carbon are not the only two elements that can be imbued into the substance. Any other element that can be added to steel is known as an “alloying element.”

These secondary elements are often added in the manufacturing process of steel to add certain characteristics – the ones we laid out in the metrics section above – to the finished product. But, like the ancient practice of alchemy, alloying is a game of give and take. Sure, adding another element might increase one aspect of the metal – making it stronger or more easy to sharpen – but that is almost always done at the expense of other aspects. This give and take makes it hard to say which types of steel are the absolute best. What we can impart, however, is the following list of common alloying elements and what, exactly, they do when added to a knife steel.

Chromium: A necessary element in the creation of stainless steel, this element is chiefly responsible for corrosion resistance. As a side note, a blade requires a minimum of 10.5% chromium to truly be considered stainless, but is most commonly around 14%.

Cobalt: Used to increase the strength of a blade, cobalt is often found in high-end steels.

Copper: The material most famous for being used in the construction of pennies and piping, the classic copper construction has highly anti-corrosive properties and increases durability.

Manganese: This transition metal has been known to increase brittleness in blades, but the trade off is a big boost in overall hardness.

Molybdenum: Fairly uncommon, this brittle metal increases overall hardness at the expense of durability.

Nickel: Like copper, nickel can increase overall durability and corrosion resistance.

Niobium: This transition metal is most commonly used to increase strength and toughness.

Phosphorous: Though it’s a non-metal (and is known for its toxicity), this element is imbued into blades to increase strength, but can cause brittleness.

Silicon: Commonly used in the creation of computer chips, this metal adds strength to steels.

Sulphur: A combustible non-metal, sulfur has been used to make machining steel simpler, but at the expense of toughness.

Tungsten: Used heavily in military applications, tungsten makes for excellent durability and scratch resistance.

Vanadium: One of the most desirable and therefore expensive alloying elements, vanadium increases durability and hardness.

While there are a wide variety of steels that can be found in everything from your motor vehicle, to your kitchenware, to the hardware on your favorite hiking backpack – there are a lot fewer that can be considered suitable for use in pocket knives – as the properties necessary for everyday carry use are fairly specific. Still, even pared down to knife steels, the number of options can seem daunting. To make things a little easier, we’ve outlined many of the most popular and common options below, as well as some information as to what makes them special.

154CM / CPM154

Often found in higher-end knives, 154CM is a top-tier non-CPM steel that balances toughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance better than just about any other steel in its class. It does not, however, stand up to CPM steels in the same manner. Luckily, if you can afford it, there is a powder metallurgy version called CPM154, which can be looked at a lot like a beefed up version of the original steel. That beefed up version, however, does typically cost a good deal more.

The Knife Seen Here: Gerber Gator

Engineered specifically for outdoor use, the Gerber Gator is a hardwearing full-size back-locking folder that’s made in America and backed by a lifetime warranty. Sold with a ballistic nylon sheath, the Gator features a rugged GFN handle mated to a 154CM drop point blade — that’s also offered in a clip pint construction. 

420HC

About as bare-bones as it gets, the 400-series of knife steels should be considered the bargain bin when it comes to everyday carry knives. That’s not to say they’re not worth your time, but you should have it in your head that you get what you pay for. There are a wide variety of 400-series steels (non-proprietary, which is nice), though none stand head and shoulders above the rest. 420HC is certainly the most common – and it features excellent hardness and decent corrosion resistance – though the difference is nominal. Other varieties often include a letter tacked onto the end, which indicates an alloying element. For instance, 420F features additional chromium for more corrosion resistance.

The Knife Seen Here: Buck 110 Auto Knife

Since its debut in 1964, the Buck 110 has stood as one of the all-time most iconic American pocket knives. The prolonged success of the 110 has more recently given way to the modernized automatic variant seen here. Maintaining the regular 110’s dimensions and materials, this USA-made knife features an automatic push-button blade deployment mechanism that’s been paired with a classic backlock.

1095

It’s hard to say what’s more common, 400-series steels or 10-series. The point is, these knife steels are practically ubiquitous throughout the knife world. The defining difference between these steels and the 400s is that 10-series steels are high-carbon blades. This means that, most typically, they offer excellent wear and chip resistance (you’ll see them commonly used in machetes and even some swords). The tradeoff, however, is that these blades do not resist corrosion very well at all and, in order to keep them from discoloring and/or rusting, will require fairly regular maintenance. Although, most folks would likely just replace a rusty blade, as these steels are supremely inexpensive.

The Knife Seen Here: TOPS Tac-Raze

Made in America, the TOPS Tac-Raze is a Leo Espinoza-designed friction folder that puts a tactical twist on traditional straight razors. Equipped with a non-locking 3.13” 1095 blade fortified via a tungsten Cerakote finish, the Tac-Raze boasts a Micarta handle and an included leather carrying sheath.

AUS-8

Owned by Aichi Steel, AUS series knife steels are, for all intents and purposes, the Japanese version of 400-series steels – though there is slight variations from steel to steel. In all honesty, while there are certainly different makeups between them, the actual in-use differences are hardly noticeable to your average EDC enthusiast. That might sound like blasphemy to a hardcore homegrown knife fanatic (or the knife makers out there reading this), but we say this: try out an AUS-series next to its 400 equivalent in a blind test and we dare you to really tell them apart.

The Knife Seen Here: Ontario RAT 1

Lending itself equally well to both EDC and self-defense duties, the Ontario RAT 1 is a tactically-inspired everyday carry folder punching well above its weight in terms of pricing. Measuring 8.625” overall, the RAT 1’s design features a liner-locking GFN handle paired with a 3.625” thumb-stud-deployed AUS-8 blade. 

Böhler M390

A legendary construction from Böhler Edelstahl GmbH & Co, Böhler M390 is often referred to as a “super-steel” for its superb properties across the board. It is alloyed with vanadium, molybdenum, and tungsten – giving it excellent wear- and corrosion-resistance, as well as hardness. As a result, M390 has become something of a go-to blade steel for super premium knives. As far as its composition, M390 is fairly similar to CPM-20CV and CTS-204P, albeit with some minor variations. Interestingly, despite being found on high-end modern knives, M390 is actually several decades old, though in recent years we’ve seen updated takes on the construction such as M390 Microclean and M390MK. 

The Knife Seen Here: Benchmade Narrows 748

Sporting a handle measuring just 0.28” in width, the aptly-named Benchmade Narrows represents the legendary brand’s thinnest folding knife to date — and by significant margin. Crafted around a super-svelte titanium handle with a redesigned, more compact version of the AXIS lock, the 748 boasts sapphire blue PVD-coated hardware and accents and a top-shelf M390 blade construction. 

Böhler N690

Another blade steel from Böhler, N690 is a mid-tier construction that’s similar to D2, only is richer in chromium — boasting a 20% composition versus D2’s roughly 12%. Developed specifically as a tool-grade blade steel, N690 offers decent edge retention, corrosion and corrosion resistance, making it a go-to choice for more value-focused and budget-friendly knives that still aim to offer solid performance. N690 is also easy to sharpen — at least compared to more premium constructions like S30V and M390. 

The Knife Seen Here: Reate EXO-K

Sold with an included non-sharpened trainer version, the Reate EXO-K is an ultra-idiosyncratic “gravity karambit” knife with one of the most unique opening system designs of the last decade. Utilizing a handle with a section that splits off and features a secondary hinged arm, this button-locking knife makes for an incredible choice for tactical and self-defense use. 

CPM

Short for “Crucible Powder Metallurgy,” CPM steel is named for the company that makes it, as well as the proprietary process used in its creation. CPM steels are legendary for their toughness and ability to survive even the most brutal of punishment. While this family is certainly one of the most durable steels out there, it’s important to note that it is not stainless – meaning it can become discolored and even corrode without proper care. That being said, steel made through this process is some of the most highly sought after in the world. This family of steel includes varieties such as S30V, S35VN, S45VN, M4, 20CV, 3V, and S90V, just to name a few. 

The Knife Seen Here: Chris Reeve Sebenza 31

aThe holy grail of modern EDC knives, the Chris Reeve Sebenza 31 is an heirloom-grade pocket knife that’s meticulously crafted by hand in America. Sporting a simple, minimalist design merging form and function, the Sebenza 31 boasts a grade 5 titanium handle with an integrated frame lock and a workhorse of a blade forged in CPM S45VN or newer CPM MagnaCut.

Cr/MoV

If the AUS-series of steels is the Japanese version of the 400s, then the Cr/MoV is the Chinese version of both. The most common variety is 8Cr13MoV. These steels are owned by a company called Ahonest and typically feature a higher carbon content than that of the AUS-series – meaning they offer greater strength at the expense of corrosion resistance. Still, for the price, this steel is pretty hard to beat.

The Knife Seen Here: Spyderco Tenacious

First released in 2008, the Spyderco Tenacious is a mid-sized built-to-last everyday carry knife that offers ample utility thanks to a nearly 3.5” blade composed of 8Cr13MoV steel. Equipped with a stainless steel liner lock, the Tenacious is offered with a wide variety of handle material and finish options. 

D2

Often referred to as “tool steel,” D2 toes the line very close to garnering it a “stainless” designation, though some would argue that it doesn’t feature enough chromium to make it truly stainless (it has around 12-13%). Still, this knife steel is highly desirable for its high hardness and toughness – especially when it comes to kitchen cutlery – though it has been known to be very difficult to sharpen. Still, D2 has been around for long enough to have successfully stood the test of time as one of the best knife steels around.

The Knife Seen Here: Kershaw Iridium

Offering outstanding bang for your buck, the Kershaw Iridium is an affordable workhorse of a folder that features Kershaw’s KVT ball bearing pivot system, a D2 blade, and anodized aluminum handles fitted with an ambidextrous DuraLock mechanism. 

Damascus

Damascus steel is a special construction consisting of two or more alloys that have been repeatedly folded many, many times over, resulting in a unique contrasting pattern that’s often brought out and enhanced using an acid etch or wash. Unlike the other types of steel on this list that feature a specific composition, Damascus steel can be comprised of any type of blade steel alloy, and as such can massively vary in quality depending on the alloys that went into its construction. So, while there are cheap versions of Damascus steel, this type of blade steel is still most commonly found on high-end knives — and high-end versions of regular knives. 

The Knife Seen Here: WE Knife Co. High-Fin

Born out of a collaboration with Gavko Knives, the WE Knife Co. High-Fin is a decidedly top-shelf take on a Damsscus-steeled EDC knife that features a grade 5 titanium frame-lock handle, a flamed titanium pocket clip, and a 2.98″ modified harpoon-inspired reverse tanto blade composed of ultra-premium Hakkapella-pattern Damasteel.

MagnaCut

Moving on to the newest blade-specific steel on our list, we have Crucible Industries’ revolutionary CPM MagnaCut. This is technically another CPM steel from Crucible, though it’s definitely worthy of its own spot on this list. While blade steels traditionally offer something of a tradeoff —with harder blade steels offering better edge retention, but also being markedly harder to sharpen when the tie for servicing finally comes — MagnaCut manages to offer remarkable levels of edge retention while also being surprisingly easy to service and sharpen. This essentially makes for a game-changing blade-steel that truly offers the best of both worlds. Thanks to its unparalleled properties, this powder metallurgy blade steel has become incredibly popular over the last few years — especially on more premium, high-end knives. 

The Knife Seen Here: Tactile Knife Co. Maverick

Designed by Richard Rogers, the Tactile Knife Co. Maverick is a minimalistic yet unmistakably premium titanium everyday carry knife that represents the brand’s first model to feature its new Crossbar lock. Spanning 8.18″ overall, the Maverick comes loaded with a top-shelf CPM MagnaCut blade and the choice of textured G10, Micarta, or titanium scales. 

Nitro-V

First debuting in 2017, Nitro-V is a budget-friendly blade steel made by New Jersey Steel Baron in collaboration with Buderus Steel. Nitro-V’s base composition is nearly identical to that of Uddeholm’s AEB-L, though it’s been enriched via the addition of more nitrogen and vanadium. Like AEB-L, Nitro-V is a fairly budget blade steel that tends to appear on cheaper knives. The construction affords decent edge retention and corrosion resistance and is incredibly easy to resharpen. 

The Knife Seen Here: CIVIVI Elementum

The CIVIVI Elementum has become a staple in the brand’s lineup thanks to this compact EDC knife’s unparalleled build quality and performance relative to its price. Its immense popularity has ultimately spawned a huge slew of Elementum variants including the new Nitro-V-steeled black-finished Wharncliffe and G10 model seen here. 

Sandvik

Made by a Swedish company of the same name, Sandvik is actually a generic name for a series of steels. For instance, if you see a knife designated as 12C27 – it was made by Sandvik. That particular variety is the brand’s standard stainless steel and is well-rounded, especially considering its relatively low cost. Similarly, they offer one dubbed 13C26, which is similar to 440A but with more toughness and less corrosion resistance, and another on the high-end called 14C28N that has nitrogen added for more corrosion resistance.

The Knife Seen Here: WESN Samla

Inspired by classic Scandinavian  designs, the WESN Samla is a modern interpretation of a non-locking friction folder that sees a grade 5 titanium (or rosewood) handle paired with a 2.45” Sandvik 12c27 sheepsfoot blade set on a phosphor bronze washer pivot. 

VG-10

Often used by Spyderco in their folding knives, VG-10 is a Japanese steel known for corrosion resistance and toughness, though it has been known to be prone to disfiguration. It can hold an extremely sharp edge and is easy to sharpen back to that edge, however, which – for many – is enough reason to keep this one in mind when shopping around. Besides, if you like Spyderco’s legendary designs, you might just have to deal with the fact that it is a standard option.

The Knife Seen Here: The James Brand The Carter

Beautifully blending form and function, The James Brand’s The Carter is a modern-day EDC knife with a fashion-forward design consisting of a slide-lock-equipped G10 or Micarta handle fitted with a versatile 2.8” VG-10 blade. 

While the above offerings are certainly the most common and accessible, they really only scratch the surface when it comes to overall varieties. As such there are a number of less common knife and tool steels that you may come across in your search for bladed tools. We’ve gone ahead and outlined some of the more prevalent rare options in the following section. Just remember: this is not a definitive list by any means, just examples of other types of steel you may see.

 1.4110: Most commonly referred to as Victorinox steel, 1.4110 is the standard stainless knife steel used in the brand’s famous Swiss Army Knives. It is very cheap – in price, not quality – and offers exceptional corrosion resistance. If it has any major downside, it would have to be that the blades do not hold an edge well. But, they are so easy to sharpen and inexpensive, there’s little to truly get fussy about.

AEB-L: First developed in the 1960’s, AEB-L is a mid-tier blade steel from Uddeholm that’s essentially a modified, stainless version of 52100 steel. Successor to AEB, AEB-L offers solid performance across the board with decent edge retention, corrosion-resistance, and overall toughness — plus is easy to sharpen. 

AR-RPM9: AR-RPM9 is a modern powder metallurgy steel made by Artisan Cutlery. As a contemporary blade steel-specific powder metallurgy construction, AR-RPM9 offers solid edge retention and corrosion resistance, sitting above your average mid-tier steels in terms of performance and slotting below super steels like M390. 

Böhler M390MK: One of the newest blade steels on this list, Böhler M390MK is a modified, updated version of M390 steel born out of a collaboration between Böhler and noted knifemaker Microtech. Benefitting from a more controlled and higher carbon content compared to normal M390, M390MK affords superior edge retention and corrosion resistance, plus is more conducive to polishing. 

CTS-XHP: Made by American brand Carpenter, CTS-XHP is a chromium-rich stainless steel that also benefits from being infused with small amounts of carbon, manganese, molybdenum, silicon, vanadium, and nickel. In a nutshell, CTS-XHP can best be described as an upgraded version of D2 that offers improved edge retention — though is consequently more difficult to sharpen. Like D2, this Carpenter steel can also be susceptible to chipping.

CTS-204P: Another proprietary blade-specific construction from Carpenter, CTS-204P is a high-end martensitic, cold-work stainless die steel that’s created using a cutting-edge Micro-Melt powder metallurgy process that results in a blade steel with a remarkably uniform microstructure. In turn, CTS-204P affords incredible edge retention and corrosion resistance — traits that make it a go-to choice for knifemakers producing high-end blades. 

Damasteel: Located roughly an hour north of Stockholm, Damasteel is a Swedish brand that produces its own proprietary name-brand Damascus steels using high-end powder metallurgy alloys. Damasteel’s Damascus constructions are offered in a wide variety of base alloys and visual patterns. 

Elmax: This ultra-premium powdered steel is an alloy including the elements chromium, vanadium, and molybdenum and is made by a Swedish company, Uddenholm, that merged with Bohler. While this steel is excellent overall, it excels when it comes to edge retention and corrosion/wear-resistance.

H1: A product of Myodo Metal, a Japanese manufacturer of steel, this metal is essentially rustproof – which means it doesn’t corrode when exposed to things such as salt water. As such, this steel is extremely popular when it comes to diving knives, though the trade off for its water-resistance is a drop in edge retention.

LC200N: Made by German metallurgist brand ZAPP, LC200 is a proprietary, high-nitrogen, alloyed tool steel that was originally developed for use as ball bearing steel for NASA before later being adapted for blade steel applications. Though it offers okay edge retention and toughness, LC200’s main benefit is undoubtedly its extreme corrosion and rust resistance which makes it a perfect blade steel for dive knives and other marine-focused knives — including quite a few models from Spyderco’s Salt lineup. 

Niolox: Made with vanadium, molybdenum, and niobium – Niolox is an extremely high quality stainless steel variety offering a unique combination of excellent corrosion resistance in conjunction with superb hardness and edge retention.

RWL-34: Named after legendary American knifemaker Robert (Bob) W. Loveless, RWL-34 is a proprietary blade steel construction made by Damasteel. Often used as a partial base for several of its proprietary Damascus constructions, RWL-34 is essentially a powder metallurgy version of 154CM, and as such maintains 154’s well-above-average toughness, while seeing its corrosion resistance and edge retention improved. 

Sleipner: A product of Uddenholm (the Swedish steel company that merged with Bohler), Sleipner steel is alloyed with elements of silicon, manganese, molybdenum, and vanadium. A tool steel, it offers exceptional machinability, resistance to chipping and wear, and has a high hardness rating.

Terravantium: Another bonafide modern-day “super steel,” Terravantium is a proprietary non-magnetic dendritic cobalt alloy with absolutely remarkable edge retention. Not requiring any heat treatment, Terravantium also calls for very little maintenance. Best of all, this blade steel is completely impervious to rust, oxidation, staining, pitting, and corrosion, of any kind. 

The Main Types of Knife Blade Shapes, Explained

Now that you know about the constructions that comprise them? Why not further sharpened up your knowledge on all things knives with our in-depth guide to the types of knife blade shapes for a detailed breakdown of modern blade silhouettes and profiles.