Popular knife steel guide condensed
Ultra premium
- CPM S110V Edge retention: 10 Corrosion resistance: 6 Ease of sharpening: 1
- CPM S90V Edge retention: 9 Corrosion resistance: 5 Ease of sharpening: 1
- M390 Edge retention: 9 Corrosion resistance: 7 Ease of sharpening: 2
- ZDP-189 Edge retention: 8 Corrosion resistance: 4 Ease of sharpening: 1
- Elmax Edge retention: 8 Corrosion resistance: 5 Ease of sharpening: 3
- CPM-20CV Edge retention: 9 Corrosion resistance: 7 Ease of sharpening: 2
Premium
- CTS-XHP Edge retention: 8 Corrosion resistance: 6 Ease of sharpening: 5
- CPM M4 Edge retention: 9 Corrosion resistance: 2 Ease of sharpening: 2
- CPM S35VN Edge retention: 7 Corrosion resistance: 7 Ease of sharpening: 5
- CPM S30V Edge retention: 7 Corrosion resistance: 7 Ease of sharpening: 5
High end
- 154CM Edge retention: 6 Corrosion resistance: 6 Ease of sharpening: 5
- ATS-34 Edge retention: 6 Corrosion resistance: 6 Ease of sharpening: 5
- D2 Edge retention: 8 Corrosion resistance: 2 Ease of sharpening: 3
- VG-10 Edge retention: 6 Corrosion resistance: 7 Ease of sharpening: 6
- H1 Edge retention: 2 Corrosion resistance: 9 Ease of sharpening: 8
- N680 Edge retention: 5 Corrosion resistance: 8 Ease of sharpening: 6
Upper mid-range
- 440C Edge retention: 4 Corrosion resistance: 4 Ease of sharpening: 6
- AUS-8 Edge retention: 3 Corrosion resistance: 4 Ease of sharpening: 8
- CTS-BD1 Edge retention: 4 Corrosion resistance: 6 Ease of sharpening: 6
- 8Cr13MoV Edge retention: 3 Corrosion resistance: 3 Ease of sharpening: 8
- 14C28N Edge retention: 4 Corrosion resistance: 6 Ease of sharpening: 6
Lower mid-range
- 440A Edge retention: 3 Corrosion resistance: 5 Ease of sharpening: 9
- 420HC Edge retention: 3 Corrosion resistance: 8 Ease of sharpening: 9
- 13C26 Edge retention: 3 Corrosion resistance: 4 Ease of sharpening: 7
- 1095 Edge retention: 3 Corrosion resistance: 2 Ease of sharpening: 8
Low end
- 420J Edge retention: 2 Corrosion resistance: 8 Ease of sharpening: 9
- AUS-6 Edge retention: 3 Corrosion resistance: 5 Ease of sharpening: 9
Source: http://bestpocketknifetoday.com/discovering-the-best-knife-steel/… -->
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