How to Read a Blade Steel
There's no single "best" knife steel — every steel is a balancing act between four properties, and improving one usually costs you a little of another:
- Edge retention — how long the blade stays sharp with use.
- Toughness — resistance to chipping or breaking under stress.
- Corrosion resistance — how well it shrugs off rust and moisture.
- Ease of sharpening — how quickly you can bring the edge back.
You'll also see a hardness figure on the Rockwell C scale (HRC). Most quality folders land between 58 and 62 HRC. Harder blades hold an edge longer but can be more brittle and harder to sharpen; softer blades are tougher and easier to touch up.
Value Stainless Steels
9Cr18MoV
A higher-end Chinese stainless with excellent corrosion resistance and easy maintenance. It takes a keen edge and is very forgiving to sharpen — outstanding value on our SENCUT and entry-level CIVIVI models.
6Cr13
A soft, highly corrosion-resistant stainless that's extremely easy to sharpen. We use it where blades are replaceable (the Elementum Utility), so keeping a fresh edge is as simple as swapping in a new blade.
Mid-Range Workhorses
D2
A high-carbon "semi-stainless" tool steel prized for excellent edge retention and wear resistance. It has slightly less chromium than a true stainless, so it rewards a quick wipe-down after use — a favourite for hard-working EDC.
Sandvik 14C28N
A fine-grained Swedish stainless with a superb all-round balance: it takes an extremely keen edge, resists corrosion well, and is easy to sharpen. One of the best value steels in the industry.
Nitro-V
An American, nitrogen-enhanced stainless in the same family as 14C28N, offering good edge retention with excellent corrosion resistance and toughness. Common across the CIVIVI EDC range.
Premium "Super Steels"
These powder-metallurgy steels are made by compressing fine metal powders under enormous pressure, producing a cleaner, finer, more uniform grain — and top-tier performance. You'll find them on our WE Knife flagship models.
Böhler M390
An Austrian benchmark super-steel, famous for outstanding edge retention combined with excellent corrosion resistance — a favourite of high-end makers worldwide.
CPM 20CV
Crucible's American equivalent to M390, with high chromium and vanadium content for exceptional wear resistance, edge retention and corrosion resistance.
CPM S45VN
A refinement of the popular S35VN with added chromium for even better corrosion resistance and edge retention — a beautifully balanced modern blade steel.
CPM S35VN
Designed specifically for premium folders, S35VN offers a great blend of toughness, edge retention and corrosion resistance, and is easier to sharpen than many super-steels.
Damascus
Damascus isn't a single steel but a pattern-welded blade: layers of steel are forge-welded together, then acid-etched to reveal flowing, one-of-a-kind patterns. On modern knives the layers are chosen for performance as well as beauty, so a Damascus blade is both a capable cutter and a genuine showpiece.
Bonus: Handle Materials
The steel does the cutting, but the handle is what you actually hold. Here's what we build with:
- G10 — a tough fibreglass-and-epoxy laminate: lightweight, grippy, and impervious to water. The EDC workhorse.
- Micarta — layered canvas or linen set in resin: warm in the hand, grippy, and develops character with use.
- Titanium (6AL4V) — premium, strong, light and corrosion-proof; used for frame locks and our high-end WE handles.
- Aluminium — light and slim, often anodized in rich colours.
- Ultem — a translucent amber high-performance polymer: light, chemical-resistant and distinctive.
- Carbon fibre — extremely light and stiff, with an unmistakable premium look.
So Which Should I Choose?
- First knife or hard-use beater? 9Cr18MoV or 14C28N — easy to maintain, easy to sharpen, great value.
- Daily carry that holds an edge? D2 or Nitro-V — excellent working steels.
- Best-in-class performance or a collector's piece? M390, CPM 20CV or S45VN — our premium WE tier.
- Something beautiful? A Damascus blade.
Still not sure? Get in touch — we're happy to help you match a knife to how you'll actually use it.