
However, some qualities must be given up for others in their chemical composition when developing particular steel. Many of these factors are reliant upon one another. Now that we understand what goes into steel and what the main types are let’s cover what characteristics a good blade should have. What are the defining characteristics of quality knife steel? Tool steel is incredibly hard and heat resistant thanks to the inclusion of durable elements like tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, and vanadium.

Tool steel is used for precisely what it sounds like, tools. Stainless steel knives are typically a combination of high carbon and contain between 11% and 17% chromium. But, the main telltale sign of stainless steel is it’s shinier due to high levels of chromium, which make it highly resistant to corrosion. The term stainless steel is thrown around a lot, so it can often be hard to know if it’s actually stainless steel. Alloy steels are often used in electronics, pipes, or auto parts. Alloy steelĪlloy steel has a wide array of alloying elements, like nickel, chromium, or manganese mentioned above, which are manipulated depending on the steel’s practical use. Carbon steel, although very strong, is more dull and prone to corrosion. There are three levels of carbon steel low (0.30% or less), medium (between 0.30% and 0.60%), and high (between 0.60% and 1.5%). Carbon steelĬarbon steel makes up most of the steel production across the globe (90%) and is what most knives will be made from because of its high durability. Keep in mind there are many “types” of steel, but overall, it falls into one of four categories. According to the World Steel Association, over 1.8 million tons of steel was produced worldwide in 2020 with over 3,500 different grades. Steel is used in more than just knives it’s used to make the majority of things we come in contact with every day.

It’s mostly iron and carbon, but there are many other elements added to the brew that give it other properties. That’s because it’s a man-made substance crafted out of many elements. You’re not going to find steel on the periodic table. What are the most common elements of steel?
#Forged in fire cutting deeper cast pro#
Or, you can just ask a pro (which is also what we did). You can read reviews and learn about steel from forums, blogs, and online guides all day long (which is what we did). Before he became a bladesmith, he was a welder for over 20 years.

Brelje has been working with steel all his life.

DJ Brelje, bladesmith and owner of Maë Knives in Oceanside, California. There’s a big difference between people who like steel and are knowledgeable of it and those who’ve worked with steel all their lives and are intimate with it. Let’s take a look at the best steel for knives and what exactly that means.
