Steel Guide

A2 steel is very tough and it’s often referred to as a type of tool steel. It’s a very good choice for knives because it has great edge retention and still it can be sharpened easily because it does not contain a lot of chromium carbide. That being said, it’s not considered stainless so it […]

S7 steel is the ideal combination of hardness and malleability that makes for a good knife. It’s fully capable of retaining an edge while being tough enough to withstand a lot of pressure and wear. The elements in S7 also make it resistant to electricity, which makes it very useful for all sorts of tools

Due to its elemental composition and strength, 52100 steel makes excellent and versatile knives. They do require better maintenance than some knives, so they’re not ideal for all situations, but overall the hardness allows them to keep their edge for a long time. In this article I’m going to break down 52100 steel, what makes

The average kitchen knife is made from stainless steel, but not all stainless steels are built equal. There are actually several varieties of stainless steel, all of which may be used for different things. 304 Stainless Steel is not good for knives because it is too soft, would lose its sharpness quickly and would not

1075 steel is commonly used for the creation of knives and swords. This is because not only does 1075 steel have fantastic edge retention, but it is also an incredibly strong material. That being said, a lot of people do not use 1075 steel for the creation of knives. While it is good for that

4340 is an excellent steel for applications where strength is the most important factor, and sharpness is not as important as throwing knives and axes or blunt tools such as hammers. Knife steels typically have a carbon range between 0.7% and 1.2%, while 4340 maxes out at 0.43% carbon. The high hardenability and resistance to

1080 steel is often the go-to choice of steel for those looking for an affordable metal for knifemaking. This is because in the manufacturing industry, it is often used in the creation of cutting tools, particularly those used for agriculture.  So, is 1080 steel good for knives? For the most part, yes. Due to the

When people first start researching knives, they are shocked to find quite a few steel types are used in their construction. Despite being similar in composition, the different steels come with varying properties, making them suitable for different scenarios. Some steels are softer and easy to sharpen, while others have great edge retention but require

One of the most known knife materials is W2 steel. Even some of the most inexperienced knife makers know about W2 steel. Interestingly, few people know much about W2 steel in terms of its composition and properties, despite its popularity. Not knowing about the specifics of the material can make it difficult to know if