Many of today’s popular knife steels mostly in EDC’s are referred to as Super Steels. They are very hard steels that stay sharp longer. The downside is the are harder to sharpen and in many cases require special gear like diamond wheels. Below are some of most common we charge more for these because of the extra time and equipment required to sharpen them. Below is a list of many of the popular Super Steels. New ones come out all the time so this is just a reference and not an exact list so your knife may be determined to be a Super Steel but may not be on the list

CPM S110V-Quite simply the ultimate in wear resistance and edge retention in ‘mainstream’ knife production.  Still relatively rare in the marketplace and arguably indistinguishable from CPM-S90V outside of the laboratory, but the fact remains that nothing holds an edge like Crucible’s CPM-S110V. It’s costly, a bitch for knifemakers to work with and sharpening can drive you nuts but a CPM-S110V blade will hold up for a ridiculous amount of time.

CPM S90V-Crucible’s CPM S90V steel approaches the very pinnacle of wear resistance and edge retention.   As you’d expect the carbon content is very high but the secret here is the extreme quantities of vanadium, almost three times that found in Elmax or S30V.  Y

M390-M390 is one of the new super steels on the block, Benchmade’s 581 Barrage is an affordable example of M390 performing at its best. >> See knives with M390 steel.

ZDP-189-ZDP-189 by Hitachi is another of the newer super steels containing huge quantities of carbon and chromium that result in ridiculous levels of hardness.  ZDP-189 averages around 64 HRC So, while it’s both harder and more wear resistant than S30V it’s more prone to corrosion.  Spyderco’s Dragonfly 2 is a good example.

>> See knives with ZDP-189 steel.

Elmax-Elmax is stainless but acts in many ways like a carbon steel.  You get superb edge holding and the easiest of the super-steels to sharpen while maintaining a healthy resistance to rust.  The ‘best all round’ knife steel?  Perhaps.  What’s great to see is that Bohler-Uddeholm sure is giving Crucible a run for their money these days.  The ZT 0620 is a great example of a superb Elmax blade.

>> See knives with Elmax steel.

CPM-20CV-CPM-20CV is Crucible’s version of Bohler’s popular M390 steel which also influenced Carpenter to copycat with CTS-204P.  CPM-20CV in newer models like their 556-1 Griptilian.  In fact, Benchmade claim their M390 is marginally tougher but 20CV has better edge retention.

>> See knives with CPM-20CV steel.

CTS-XHP-CTS-XHP from US based Carpenter is another relatively new knife steel that has very good edge retention and hardens to about 61 HRC.  

CPM M4-A high performance tool steel which excels at toughness and arguably holds and edge better than any other carbon steel.  >> See knives with M4 steel.

CPM S35VN-In 2009, Crucible and Chris Reeve introduced an ever so slightly superior version of their excellent S30V steel and named it S35VN.  By using a much finer grain structure and adding small quantities of niobium (hence the “N”) they were able to make the outstanding S30V easier to machine while improving toughness and ability to sharpen.  CPM-S45VN which essentially incorporates an extra dollop of chromium for a modest improvement in corrosion resistance.  >> See knives with CPM-S35VN steel.

CPM S30V-Made by US based Crucible, CPM S30V (often simply referred to as S30V) steel has excellent edge retention and resists rust effortlessly.  It was designed in the US and is typically used for the high-end premium pocket knives and expensive kitchen cutlery.  

>> See knives with CPM-S30V steel.

154CM-This achieves superior edge holding compared to 440C while retaining similar excellent levels of corrosion resistance despite having less Chromium.  manufacturers like Benchmade use 154CM steel.  You may also see CPM 154 which is a powder version of the same alloy produced much differently using Crucible Particle Metallurgy (Sweden’s D

ATS-34-This steel can be thought of as the Japanese equivalent to the US made 154CM.  Accordingly, it has very similar properties and characteristics to the 154CM and in general represents a high quality steel which has become very popular with knife makers. 

D2-D2 steel is a tool steel often referred to as “semi-stainless” as it falls just short of the required amount of chromium (13%) to qualify as full stainless yet it still provides a good amount of resistance to corrosion.  On the flip side D2 steel is much harder than other steels in this category such as 154CM

VG-10- VG-10 steel is very similar to 154CM and ATS-34 with slightly more chromium for enhanced corrosion resistance but also contains vanadium which makes it marginally tougher than these two.  It originated not too long ago from Japan and has been slowly introduced into the American market by respect knife makers like Spyderco.  

H1-H1 steel from Japan’s Myodo Metals is basically the ultimate in corrosion resistance and essentially does not rust.  The epitome of true stainless steel.  Naturally, this comes at a price and that price is edge retention which is relatively poor.  So, while excellent for diving it’s a non-starter for most EDC use.   Very expensive stuff.

N680-N680 steel contains about 0.20% nitrogen and over 17% chromium making it extremely corrosion resistant.  If your blade will be in frequent contact with salt water for example then this is the steel for you.  

440C-Once considered the high-end in US knife steels, 440C is a good all-round steel that has now been overshadowed by many of the newer super-steels on the block.  This is a stainless steel commonly used on many mass-manufactured pocket knives and represents a solid affordable all-round choice.  It’s reasonably tough and wear resistant but it really excels at stain resistance.  Holds an edge better than it’s 400-series counterpart 420HC but at the expense of some corrosion resistance.  The 440C blades can be sharpened relatively easily.  It has the highest levels of carbon and chromium in this group.

AUS-8-AUS-8 steel is Japanese made and extremely similar to 440B steel which is slightly more resistant to rust and corrosion than 440C but less hard.  It’s also similarly tough but may not hold its edge as well as some of the more premium steels which carry a greater degree of carbon.  Remember, more carbon means more hardness and edge holding.  Real easy to sharpen and takes a razor edge.

CTS-BD1-Created at Spyderco’s request, CTS-BD1 is a vacuum-melted stainless steel from US based Carpenter that is often likened to AUS-8 and 8Cr13MoV with many putting it slightly ahead of those two based on superior edge holding.  With slightly more chromium it also achieves better corrosion resistance.  CTS-BD1 has mid-sized chromium carbides (hard, wear resisting particles) it takes an edge relatively easily but not on par with the wear resistance of high carbide steels like 154CM.

8Cr13MoV You typically get great value for money with this steel and good manufacturers like Spyderco have mastered the heat treatment process to bring out its best.

14C28N-The 14C28N stainless steel from Swedish manufacturer Sandvik is considered an upgrade to their 13C26 described below.  In fact, Kershaw asked Sandvik to make their 13C26 steel more resistant to corrosion and the result was 14C28N.  In the lab you’ll find slightly more chromium and less carbon in the 14C28N but the real secret is the addition of Nitrogen which promotes corrosion resistance.  Overall a very impressive mid-range steel that can be made extremely sharp.  Arguably the best budget knife steel and quite possibly the best steel you’ll find on a sub-$30 production knife.

440A-Very much like 420HC but with slightly more carbon which results in enhanced levels of wear resistance and edge retention but suffers from weaker anti-corrosion properties.

420HC-Generally considered the king of the 420 steels, 420HC is similar to 420 steel but with increased levels of carbon (HC stands for High Carbon) which makes the steel harder.  Still considered a lower-mid range steel but the more competent manufacturers (e.g. Buck) can really bring out the best in this affordable steel using quality heat treatments.  That results in better edge retention and resistance to corrosion.  In fact, this is one of the most corrosion resistant steels out there, despite it’s low cost.  You’ll find it mostly on budget blades (< $50) and multi-tools.

13C26

EDGE RETENTION: 3 CORROSION RESISTANCE: 4 EASE OF SHARPENING: 7

This is Sandvik’s version of the AEB-L steel, originally developed for razor blades.  Close comparison to 440A steel with a higher carbon to chromium ratio making it generally a little harder and wearable at the expense of corrosion resistance.   Still, in real world applications it’s difficult to tell them apart and they tend to perform very similarly.  Sandvik later came out with 14C28N which is a slightly improved version of 13C26.

1095

EDGE RETENTION: 3 CORROSION RESISTANCE: 2 EASE OF SHARPENING: 8

This is the most popular 10-series standard carbon steel (about 1% carbon) with low corrosion resistance and average edge retention properties. Why would you want 1095 steel?  The appeal here is 1095 is a tough steel that’s resistant to chipping, it’s easy to sharpen, takes a crazy sharp edge and is inexpensive to produce.  This makes it desirable for larger heavy duty fixed blades and survival knives which are going to be subject to more abuse than your typical EDC.  Many manufacturers will coat their 1095 knives to delay the onset of any corrosion but a simple oil treatment will do the trick.

420J

EDGE RETENTION: 2 CORROSION RESISTANCE: 8 EASE OF SHARPENING: 9

The 420 steel is on the lower end of the quality spectrum but still perfectly fine for general use applications.  It has a relatively low carbon content (usually less than 0.5%) which makes for a softer blade and as a result will tend to lose it’s edge quicker than higher end steels.   Blades made from 420 steel will rapidly lose their sharp edge over a relatively short time period.  That said, it’s typically tough with high flexibility and extremely stain resistant  but it is not particularly resistant to wear and tear. As you would expect, knives made from this type of steel are generally low priced, mass produced items.

AUS-6-Japanese made equivalent to the 420 series steel.  A soft steel that’s generally low quality with relatively little carbon content but it resists corrosion reasonably well.

Other popular steels

In today’s fiercely competitive market the ultimate steels rarely retain their crown for long.  Manufacturers consistently push the boundaries of science and technology to introduce superior alloys to the marketplace and boost profits.  I remember the days when 440C was king, an impressive steel now relegated to the budget category.  Sure, marketing plays a huge role today with companies using slick tactics to convince consumers that their latest steel is even better than the last.  Truth is, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to evaluate these steels objectively as the incremental performance gains become indistinguishable and almost impossible to quantify outside of the laboratory.  Still, here’s my take on some other steels which are popular among knife enthusiasts but still relatively rare in the marketplace.

Maxamet

Maxamet is the latest high speed powder steel from Carpenter (aka CarTech).  Its an extreme alloy with insane hardness and tremendous edge retention while still retaining a reasonable amount of toughness but at the expense of corrosion resistance (it’s not stainless).  While it wasn’t designed to compete with Crucible’s chart topping CPM-S110V steel, many knife nerds like the compare the two.  So, how does Maxamet compare against CPM-S110V?  Well, it’s largely still up for debate but from my experience Maxamet matches S110V in edge retention but falls short on corrosion resistance (it’s not stainless).  Both are ridiculously difficult to sharpen.   You’ll find Maxamet on some Spyderco offerings like the Native 5 and Manix 2.

Cru-Wear

Cru-Wear is a Crucible tool steel which can be thought of as a modification of D2 steel by dialing down the carbon and chromium while jacking up the vanadium and tungsten levels.  Vanadium carbides beat out chromium for hardness and and lower carbon levels make for a tougher steel.  So, now it becomes comparable to CPM-3V and M4, with excellent toughness and thus resistance to chipping in knives.  Bottom line is, CruWear is offered as a balance between 3V and M4.  It’s tougher than M4 but won’t hold an edge as long, while being less tough than 3V but holds and edge longer.  Basically a good balance of toughness and wear resistance.  Currently being offered by Bark River Knives, Jake Hoback, Spyderco.

CPM-MagnaCut

MagnaCut was introduced in 2021 and the brainchild of knife steel guru Larrin Thomas who designed the steel specifically for knives.  Produced by Crucible, it’s a powder metallurgy steel whose alloy composition is not necessarily overly complex but the steel exhibits very interesting and fairly unique properties.  It provides an excellent mix of toughness and wear resistance while also maintaining high levels of corrosion resistance.  How so with under 11% chromium?  The key is eliminating the chromium carbides and maximizing free chromium through an optimal chromium-carbon balance (basically the opposite phenomenon we describe with ZDP-189 above).   This and the super fine structure of MagnaCut put it in the same league as CPM-CruWear and CPM-4V for toughness and edge retention while eclipsing the likes of CPM-S45VN and CPM-S110V in corrosion resistance.  What’s the catch?  Well, availability is extremely limited and prices are accordingly high…for now.