Knife And Outdoors Magazine
An overview of various metals used in blade manufacturing.
A2 is in the hall of fame for high-carbon steels. This might be because A2 is arguably one of the first tool steels to come into existence. A2 dates back to the 1960s and has been used over the years for multiple applications. Even with the rise in multiple budget imported steels, A2 proudly stands…
It’s impossible to talk about great high-carbon steels without mentioning W2 steels at least once. Not only is W2 Steel exceptionally hard and durable, it’s also the perfect steel to make custom knives. This unintimidating high-carbon steel is almost fail-proof (almost!) and is very forgiving for knife steel nerds looking to make their own perfect…
Damascus knife fan? Ever wondered what the other steel is, the one forged together with Damascus steel? Chances are, it’s 15n20. 15n20 is a great steel for Damascus knives and for regular knives. As a very affordable steel, this one has high amounts of Nickel and moderate amounts of carbon. As far as steel performance…
5160 is something of famous steel — many people who don’t know much of knives would have heard of 5160. That’s because 5160 is actually not a “knife steel†per se, it’s most commonly used in the construction of swords, daggers, and bigger tools. The reason for this is that 5160’s best capability is being…
If you’re in the market for a great beginner knife, you’ve almost certainly come across 1084 Steel. Often hailed as the perfect beginner-steel, 1084 offers lots of impressive capabilities at a reasonable budget price. But 1084 isn’t the only great beginner steel in the market, there are plenty others offering competitive features. In this article…
CPM M4 steel, or just M4 steel is a steel that is recently catching on in popularity. This high-alloy steel is quickly gaining traction because of how versatile it is. Many call M4 a high-speed steel. M4 is high-alloy steel as well, fortified with high amounts of vanadium and molybdenum. In this article, we’ll get…
5cr15MoV is in the MoV or Cr series of Chinese manufactured stainless steel. This grade of stainless steel falls in midrange to high-range quality and is quite durable. In terms of price, you won’t find any other stainless steel at such an affordable price with competitive quality. This makes 5cr15MoV quite a versatile knife steel…
7cr17MoV Steel is in the MoV or Cr series of Chinese manufactured stainless steel. This grade of stainless steel falls in midrange to high-range quality and is quite durable but is affordable and budget in terms of price. This makes it a great choice for different kinds of knives for outdoor activities (such as camping)…
If you’ve been on the lookout for a durable and high-quality knife, you’ll likely come across 3cr13 steel knives. 3cr13 steel is so commonly used because it’s perfect for various applications. But you don’t just want a ‘good’ knife, you want the perfect blend of toughness, hardness, and other features that will serve multi-purposes and…
CPM S110V Steel is a premium high-alloy steel with extremely high performance. This martensitic tool steel is known for having great wear resistance and exceptional corrosion resistance. The ‘CPM’ stands for Crucible Particle Metallurgy which refers to the process under which this steel is manufactured. The CPM S110V was initially used for injection molding in…