KnifeWebGuide.com™ provides an extensive guide of links, resources and information to online knife, sword and cutlery-related Web sites organized by category. Look inside for links to knife manufacturers, custom knife makers, swords, magazines, knife collecting, knife making supplies, related sites and more.

Knife Steel

Browse the Knife Web Guide™™

Select a Theme Antiques     Antique Associations     Antique Directories     Antique Publications     Antique Shows - Fairs Custom Hand Made Knives     Bladesmiths - Metalsmiths     Custom Knife Dealers     Custom Knife Makers Cutlery     Flatware Silver Stainless     Kitchen Knives     Manicure - Personal Care     Razors and Barberania     Scissors and Shears Information     Appraisals     Career Help and Info     Collecting Information     Edged Weapon Instruction     E-mail Discussion List     Escrow Online     Freight Handling and Shipping     Help and Information     Knife Sword and Cutlery Downloads     Maps and Prints     Military     Military Edged Weapons     Police - Law Enforcement     Right to Keep - Bear Arms     Schools and Courses     Shopping Guides     Shows - Exhibitions Knife Making     Flintknapping     Knife Engraving     Knife Making Information     Knife Making Supplies     Machine Tool Equipment     Metal and Related     Scrimshaw     Wood and Metal Machines     Wood and Supplies     Wood Directories Knives and Related     Automatics - Switchblades     Axes and Hatchets     Displays and Showcases     Knife Accessories         Sharpeners         Sheaths - Scabbards     Knife Auctions     Knife Books and Related     Knife Classified Ads     Knife Collectible Malls     Knife Collector Clubs     Knife Dealers - Retailers     Knife Directories     Knife Forums     Knife History or Related     Knife Information Sites     Knife Laws     Knife Magazines     Knife Malls     Knife Manufacturers     Knife Organizations     Knife Photography     Knife Repair - Restoration     Knife Web Services     Machetes     Miniatures     Promotional Products     Throwing Knives     Used Knives Outdoors     Outdoor Magazine-TV-Radio     Outdoor Retailers     Outdoor Stuff Swords     Fencing and Related     Stage - Combat     Sword Books and Magazines     Swords - Custom     Swords - Japanese     Swords and Armour

KWG Site Map > Home Page > index > Knife Steel

Knife Steel By definition, steel is a combination of iron and no more than 2% carbon.

Air Tools Cordless Tools Drills Hand Tools Hardware Landscaping Tools Sanders Saws

Knife Steel Facts
Which Steels For Which Knives?

Heat treatment is as crucial a part as the grade of steel.

Basically, knife steels are high carbon stainless or non-stainless high carbon.

High carbon stainless is rust resistant though harder to sharpen.

Non-stainless high carbon rusts easier but is easier to sharpen.  

With proper heat treatment, 440 should hold an edge slightly better and sharpen a bit easier than the lower 400 series stainless. 

The lower 400 series stainless are gaining in popularity among the factories because they cause less wear on tooling.

ATS-34 and CPM 440V cost more than the other stainless steels, and the CPM 440V costs the most. 

Blades of most stainless steels used in knives are not rustproof but are rust or stain resistance. So therefore stainless steel blades should still be kept clean and wiped dry after use, especially many of the new high carbon stainless steels like ATS-34, and CMP-T440V. But they do not need as much care as carbon steel knives.

---

Metric/Inch/Fraction Conversion Chart - Quick reference for conversion

Of course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask "how," while others of a more curious nature will ask "why." Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information.      Man Ray - Photographer

Browse our Knife Article Library™ for some helpful stuff and take a minute to submit your own tip or hint that you've picked up. You'll get credit for it on the page if we use it. Looking for a little exposure? Want to beef up your internet presence? Have a site you think other knife enthusiasts would find valuable?
Send your articles or site links to us for inclusion in a future CC-Newsletter issue or to be used on Knife Web Guide site. 

Information on adding your web site to the Knife Web Guide

Knife Web Guide Site Map