Which Steel Grades for Hunting and Outdoor Knives?
For hunting and outdoor knives, edge retention is often prioritized, although wear resistance depends on the user's individual requirements.
The following stainless steel grades are recommended for hunting and outdoor knives:
- Böhler N690, 440C, 440B, Böhler N679
- For very high corrosion resistance: NitroB, N360, LC200N
If you prefer carbon steel, as it is for example easier to sharpen, these steel grades are ideal:
- 80CrV2, 1.2703, 75Ni8, Böhler K720, 1075
If you require higher wear resistance for hunting and outdoor knives, these PM steels are a good choice:
- RWL34, Elmax, Böhler K390, Z-3, Z-Max, Z-Tuff, MagnaCut
Which Steel Grades for Chef’s and Kitchen Knives?
For kitchen knives, steels with a fine microstructure and high edge stability are best, especially for push cuts and shallow sharpening angles.
Among stainless steel grades, the following are recommended for kitchen & chef's knives:
- NitroV, AEB-L, 14C28N, SF100, 1.4034
- For very high corrosion resistance: NitroB, N360, LC200N
Carbon steels are also popular for kitchen knives, as they are often easier to sharpen and provide high hardness:
- 1.2067, 1.2419, 26C3, 1095, 1.2510, SheffCut, Wolfram Special
If kitchen knives require higher wear resistance but still a fine microstructure, these PM steels are an excellent choice:
- RWL34, Vanax
For heavily used kitchen knives, such as cleavers, the geometry and hardness are adjusted to handle the demands.
Does High Sharpness Require Carbon Steel?
No, not necessarily, as stainless steels can achieve equivalent sharpness. Many people think otherwise because carbon steel is usually easier to sharpen. Additionally, most mass-produced stainless knives are not designed for sharpness. These typically have lower hardness and wear resistance to keep manufacturing costs down.
Steel for Fishing Knives & Angler’s Knives
Corrosion resistance plays a significantly more important role for knives used by anglers and fishermen than in other areas, since these knives are frequently and for extended periods exposed to water or even saltwater. Carbon steel blades quickly lose their sharpness due to corrosion and are therefore not optimal for this use. Especially for saltwater applications, the requirements are even higher, so we can only recommend steels with high corrosion resistance.
Standard steel grades for fishing and angler's knives are:
- NitroB, 440A, LC200N
For higher wear resistance, these PM steels are recommended:
- Vanax, CPM S110V
Surface finish and heat treatment are also crucial for corrosion resistance. Tempering should only be carried out at low temperatures up to a maximum of 200 °C. For the finish, a grit of at least K1200 is recommended, preferably K2000 or higher – especially for saltwater applications.
