Know the 5 Different Types of Steel Used in Knife Blades
If you think there is only one type of steel that is certainly the best for knifemaking, then you are probably mistaken!
There’s no such thing as the best material; instead, it all boils down to your work and preferences.
But if you are in the market searching for the best tool, you want it to look exceptionally beautiful while catering to your needs.
While looking for the best steel for forging knives, you want your tool to look great and serve multiple purposes.
Although most knives are made using either stainless steel or carbon steel, there are many other materials, too!
Let’s discuss the different types of steel used in knife blades.
- Carbon Steel
It is one of the common yet popular materials being widely used in making knives of all sizes. It comes with a strong blade that you can easily sharpen, making it a perfect material for heavy-duty tasks like chopping, hunting, peeling, skinning, and more. As the carbon content of the blade increases, the strength of your knife will also increase. Though higher carbon content may improve the blade sharpness, it can impact the corrosion resistance, too. Some of the popular steel materials used to create knives are Super Blue, Blue, and White high-carbon steel.
- Damascus Steel
It is undoubtedly the best and most popular material that is known for its appealing patterns and sleek look. Also known as pattern-welded steel, this material is relatively harder than others while offering flexibility and comfort while handling it. Coming to its composition, these knives are equipped with higher content of carbon steel with a minimum amount of chromium. Since they have huge carbon steel content, they are likely to get rust if not properly cared for. Whether you’re fond of hunting or cooking, having a Damascus chef knife may perfectly cater to your everyday purposes.
- Stainless Steel
Another material being used in forging knives is stainless steel. The prime alloy in any steel knife is chromium which can significantly prevent corrosion. Chromium can generally make up over 10% of the total ingredients, which would improve the strength of the knife. Also, you should know that there’s a popular 400 series that comes with this material. For instance, 420 series of steel contain nearly 40% of carbon. Though the material is durable enough to get the job done, you might need to sharpen it quite often.
- Semi-Stainless Steel
It is another popular material that contains chromium levels anywhere between 3% to 10% or a maximum of 12-13%. The major highlight of the steel is that it is resistant to stain, dust, and rust unlike the ones mentioned above. Because these kinds of knives don’t generally contain a protective element, they don’t need to be sharpened regularly. If you’re considering a knife that is quite durable and doesn’t require utmost care, you can then consider knives with semi-stainless steel.
- Powder Stainless Steel
Finally, yet importantly, powder steel is another popular material being used to forge knives. It is quite hard and provides heat resistance. Though this kind of stainless steel has some amount of chromium, it is powdered to ensure the grains’ structure is fine enough to increase the level of hardness. The major striking aspect of this steel is that it can go up to HRC 65, making its edges sharp and thin. While it is made from powder steel, it is susceptible to chipping on plain areas.
Conclusion
As you could see, there are multiple steel types available on the market. Always consider your use and then choose the right kind of knife that you need for your daily activities.
