Choosing a knife often comes down to one question: which steel? This chart compares all 47 steels we have covered on HowToTactical, from budget 8Cr13MoV to super steels like Maxamet, so you can see the trade-offs at a glance.
Click any column to sort, filter by steel type, or search for a steel by name. Each steel links to its full guide.
Knife Steel Comparison Chart
| 3Cr13 | Stainless | 52-55 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 10 | Very cheap knives, beginners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 420J2 | Stainless | 50-54 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 10 | Budget and dive knives |
| 5Cr15MoV | Stainless | 55-57 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 9 | Budget kitchen and utility |
| X50CrMoV15 | Stainless | 55-57 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 9 | German kitchen knives |
| 4034 | Stainless | 54-56 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 9 | Budget kitchen knives |
| 4116 | Stainless | 55-58 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 9 | Kitchen and outdoor knives |
| 420HC | Stainless | 56-58 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 9 | Buck, Leatherman, multi-tools |
| 440A | Stainless | 55-58 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 8 | Budget folders |
| 7Cr17MoV | Stainless | 55-57 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | Budget folders and kitchen |
| 8Cr13MoV | Stainless | 56-58 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | Budget EDC folders |
| AUS-8 | Stainless | 57-59 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Budget to mid EDC |
| Sandvik 12C27 | Stainless | 56-58 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Mora and outdoor knives |
| BDZ1 | Stainless | 58-60 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 9 | Razors and fine edges |
| CTS BD1 | Stainless | 58-61 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 8 | Mid-range folders |
| AEB-L | Stainless | 58-62 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 9 | Kitchen and custom knives |
| Sandvik 14C28N | Stainless | 58-62 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 8 | Best budget all-rounder |
| 9Cr18MoV | Stainless | 57-60 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | Budget to mid folders |
| 440C | Stainless | 57-60 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | Classic stainless folders |
| N690Co | Stainless | 58-60 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | European folders and fixed |
| VG10 | Stainless | 59-61 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 6 | Japanese kitchen, Spyderco |
| 154CM | Stainless | 58-61 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | Mid-range EDC |
| ATS-34 | Stainless | 58-61 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | Mid-range EDC |
| CPM 154 | Powder | 58-61 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | Refined 154CM, EDC |
| CPM S35VN | Powder | 59-61 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | Premium EDC all-rounder |
| CTS XHP | Powder | 60-63 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 4 | Premium EDC |
| CPM 20CV | Powder | 59-62 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 3 | High-end EDC, low maintenance |
| CTS-204P | Powder | 59-62 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 3 | High-end EDC, low maintenance |
| CPM S110V | Powder | 61-64 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 1 | Max edge retention, stainless |
| ZDP-189 | Powder | 64-66 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 2 | Very hard, thin edges |
| 1084 | Carbon | 58-61 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 9 | Forged and beginner smiths |
| 1095 | Carbon | 56-60 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 9 | Bushcraft and classic knives |
| 1095 Cro-Van | Carbon | 56-59 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 9 | Ka-Bar and outdoor fixed |
| 15N20 | Carbon | 58-62 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 9 | Damascus and tough blades |
| 5160 | Carbon | 55-60 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 9 | Choppers, swords, machetes |
| EN45 | Carbon | 50-55 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 9 | Swords and machetes |
| 80CrV2 | Carbon | 57-60 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 9 | Choppers and bushcraft |
| SK5 | Carbon | 56-60 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 9 | Japanese outdoor knives |
| 52100 | Carbon | 60-63 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 8 | Hunting and custom knives |
| W2 | Carbon | 58-64 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 8 | Hamon blades, custom |
| O1 | Tool | 58-62 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 8 | Bushcraft and custom |
| D2 | Tool | 58-61 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Budget wear resistance |
| CruWear | Tool | 60-64 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 4 | Hard-use EDC |
| CPM 3V | Powder | 58-61 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 5 | Hard-use fixed blades |
| CPM M4 | Powder | 61-64 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 3 | Hard-use performance |
| HAP40 | Powder | 64-66 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | Very hard, Spyderco sprints |
| Böhler K390 | Powder | 62-64 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | Tough and long-lasting edge |
| Maxamet | Powder | 67-70 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Extreme edge retention |
Ratings are relative scores from 1 to 10 for typical factory heat treatments. They are based on published edge retention (CATRA) and toughness testing, such as the work done by Knife Steel Nerds, plus each steel’s composition. Real knives vary with heat treatment, hardness and blade geometry, so treat the scores as a guide, not lab results.
How to Read the Chart
- Edge retention: how long the edge stays sharp when cutting. Higher means fewer trips to the sharpener.
- Toughness: how well the edge resists chipping and the blade resists breaking. Matters most for choppers and hard use.
- Rust resistance: how well the steel resists corrosion. Carbon steels score low and need oil and care.
- Ease of sharpening: higher means easier to sharpen at home. Steels with lots of hard vanadium carbides score low.
- Typical HRC: the usual Rockwell hardness range for knives in this steel.
There is no perfect steel. Edge retention, toughness and rust resistance pull against each other, so every steel is a trade-off.
Best Knife Steels by Budget
Budget: 14C28N is the best budget stainless thanks to its balance of toughness and rust resistance. 8Cr13MoV and AUS-8 are fine for light use and easy to sharpen.
Mid-range: D2 gives good wear resistance for the money but is not fully stainless. 154CM, VG10 and S35VN are reliable all-rounders.
Premium: CPM 20CV and CTS-204P hold an edge for a very long time and barely rust. CPM M4 and K390 add toughness but need care against rust. Maxamet and S110V are for edge retention above everything else.
Carbon vs Stainless vs Powder Steel
Carbon steels like 1095 and 5160 are tough, cheap and easy to sharpen, but they rust without oil and care. Great for bushcraft knives and choppers.
Stainless steels contain enough chromium to resist rust. Budget stainless is easy to live with. Better stainless adds edge retention.
Tool steels like D2, O1 and CruWear were made for industrial tools. They are wear resistant or tough but usually not stainless.
Powder metallurgy (PM) steels like S35VN, M4 and K390 are made from atomized powder, which gives fine, even carbides. That lets them combine more wear resistance with better toughness than conventional steels of similar makeup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best knife steel overall?
There is no single best steel. For most everyday knives, a balanced stainless like S35VN, 14C28N or VG10 gives the best mix of edge retention, toughness and rust resistance.
What is the toughest knife steel?
Among common knife steels, CPM 3V, 5160 and 80CrV2 are some of the toughest. They are popular for choppers and hard-use fixed blades.
Which knife steel holds an edge the longest?
High-vanadium powder steels like S110V, Maxamet, 20CV and CTS-204P hold an edge the longest, but they are harder to sharpen.
Is D2 a good knife steel?
Yes, for the price. D2 has good edge retention but lower toughness and only partial rust resistance.
Is carbon steel better than stainless?
Carbon steel is usually tougher and easier to sharpen, while stainless resists rust. Choose based on how and where you use the knife.
Does heat treatment matter more than the steel?
Often, yes. A well heat-treated budget steel can outperform a poorly treated premium steel. Buy from brands known for good heat treatment.