Knife steel chart, ratings and comparisons

Composition, hardness and 1-10 ratings for edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening for 30 popular knife steels, plus head-to-head comparisons and the knives that use each steel.

Open the steel chart Browse comparisons

Edge retention vs toughness

Every steel trades wear resistance against toughness. Dot size shows corrosion resistance; colour shows the steel type. Click a dot to open the steel.

Knife steels: edge retention vs toughnessMagnaCut: edge 7, toughness 8; D2: edge 6, toughness 3; S30V: edge 6, toughness 4; S35VN: edge 6, toughness 5; S45VN: edge 6, toughness 5; M390: edge 8, toughness 4; 20CV: edge 8, toughness 4; 14C28N: edge 3, toughness 8; VG-10: edge 5, toughness 4; 8Cr13MoV: edge 3, toughness 5; 1095: edge 3, toughness 5; 440C: edge 4, toughness 3; 154CM: edge 5, toughness 4; Nitro-V: edge 3, toughness 8; Elmax: edge 7, toughness 5; S90V: edge 9, toughness 3; CruWear: edge 7, toughness 7; CPM 3V: edge 5, toughness 9; AEB-L: edge 3, toughness 9; 80CrV2: edge 3, toughness 8; AUS-8: edge 3, toughness 6; N690: edge 5, toughness 4; CTS-XHP: edge 6, toughness 4; CPM M4: edge 8, toughness 5; LC200N: edge 3, toughness 8; 420HC: edge 2, toughness 7; ZDP-189: edge 9, toughness 2; HAP40: edge 8, toughness 4; SG2 (R2): edge 7, toughness 4; Shirogami #2: edge 4, toughness 61122334455667788991010Edge retention →Toughness →MagnaCutMagnaCutD2D2S30VS30VCTS-XHPCTS-XHPS35VNS35VNS45VNS45VNM390M39020CV20CVHAP40HAP4014C28N14C28NNitro-VNitro-V80CrV280CrV2LC200NLC200NVG-10VG-10154CM154CMN690N6908Cr13MoV8Cr13MoV10951095440C440CElmaxElmaxS90VS90VCruWearCruWearCPM 3VCPM 3VAEB-LAEB-LAUS-8AUS-8CPM M4CPM M4420HC420HCZDP-189ZDP-189SG2 (R2)SG2 (R2)Shirogami #2Shirogami #2

Steel types

Stainless steels11 steelsConventional (ingot) stainless steels with enough free chromium, roughly 12% or more, to resist rust in everyday use.Powder metallurgy stainless steels11 steelsStainless steels made by powder metallurgy, which keeps carbides small and evenly spread so high-alloy steels stay tough enough for knives.Tool steels1 steelsIngot tool steels designed for dies and cutting tools; high wear resistance, limited corrosion resistance.Powder metallurgy tool steels2 steelsPowder metallurgy tool steels that combine high toughness with wear resistance, with little corrosion resistance.High-speed powder steels2 steelsPowder metallurgy high-speed steels with tungsten, molybdenum and vanadium; very high hardness and edge retention, low corrosion resistance.Carbon steels3 steelsSimple carbon and low-alloy steels: easy to sharpen and often tough, but they rust and patina without care.

Popular comparisons

All comparisons

Most-searched steels

MagnaCutPowder metallurgy stainless steels · 61–64 HRCD2Tool steels · 58–61 HRCS30VPowder metallurgy stainless steels · 58–61 HRCS35VNPowder metallurgy stainless steels · 58–61 HRCM390Powder metallurgy stainless steels · 60–62 HRC14C28NStainless steels · 57–60 HRCVG-10Stainless steels · 59–61 HRC8Cr13MoVStainless steels · 56–59 HRC1095Carbon steels · 56–60 HRC440CStainless steels · 57–59 HRC154CMStainless steels · 58–61 HRCNitro-VStainless steels · 59–62 HRCElmaxPowder metallurgy stainless steels · 60–62 HRC80CrV2Carbon steels · 57–60 HRC420HCStainless steels · 56–58 HRC

Featured knives

Spyderco Para 3S45VN · 2.93" blade · 3.4 ozCompression lock, list price $263Benchmade Bugout 535S30V · 3.24" blade · 1.85 ozAXIS lock, list price $200Civivi Elementum C907AD2 · 2.96" blade · 2.89 ozLiner lock, list price $59QSP Penguin QS130D2 · 3.06" blade · 3.14 ozLiner lockKershaw Leek 166014C28N · 3" blade · 3 ozFrame lock, list price $124.99Hogue DekaMagnaCut · 3.25" blade · 2.1 ozABLE Lock, list price $184.95