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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