A Guide toCRKT BladeSteels
So what types of steel does CRKT use? Here’s a guide to every knife steel in CRKT’s innovative products to help you choose the right blade for its intended use.
Steel Type | Category | Best For | Additional Notes | CRKT Favorites: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Damascus | Specialty Steel | High-end, collector knives | Beautiful patterns; performance varies depending on the combination of steels used. | EDC: Fortuitous™ Liner Lock Collecting: Soldotna Fixed |
MagnaCut | Premium Stainless | High-end EDC, demanding tasks | Exceptional edge retention, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance. | |
M390 | Premium Stainless | High-end EDC, demanding tasks | Exceptional edge retention, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance. | EDC: Obverse Liner Lock |
S35VN | Premium Stainless | High-end EDC, kitchen, demanding environments | Excellent edge retention, corrosion resistance, and overall performance. | EDC: LCK + Liner Lock |
14C28N | High-Performance Stainless | EDC, kitchen, tactical | Excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance; relatively easy to sharpen. | EDC: Padawan Frame Lock |
154CM | High-Performance Stainless | EDC, high-end knives | Good all-around stainless steel; balances edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. | EDC: LCBK Crossbar Lock |
440A 440C | High-Performance Stainless | EDC, high-end knives (440C) | 440A is budget-friendly with decent performance. 440C offers better edge retention and corrosion resistance. | EDC: Kalbi Liner Lock Tactical: Hissatsu™ Fixed |
9Cr18MoV | Mid-range stainless | EDC, general use, tools | Good corrosion resistance and toughness; decent edge retention. | Hunting: Hunt’N Fisch™ Fixed |
12C27 | Mid-Range Stainless | EDC, hunting, fishing | Balanced edge retention, ease of sharpening, and corrosion resistance. | EDC: CEO Microflipper Tactical: M16®-03KS Spear Point |
1.4116 | Mid-Range Stainless | EDC, kitchen | Used in European knives; good balance of toughness and edge retention. | EDC: Shenanigan™ Assisted |
AUS 8 AUS 10 | Mid-Range Stainless | EDC, kitchen, general use | Good balance of toughness, edge retention, and ease of sharpening. AUS-10 has slightly better edge retention than AUS-8. | River Rescue: Bear Claw™ Fixed |
1095 1075 1055 | High-Carbon Non-Stainless | Bushcraft, hunting, survival, axes | Excellent edge retention; easy to sharpen; tough but rust-prone. 1095 has highest edge retention, 1055 is toughest. | Hunting: Soldotna Fixed Axe: Woods Chogan™ T-Hawk |
1050 | High-Carbon Non-Stainless | Swords, large blades | Very tough; lower hardness compared to higher carbon steels. | Throwing: Onion Throwing Knives |
65Mn | High-Carbon Non-Stainless | Spring steel, flexible knives | High flexibility and springiness; lower edge retention. | Machete: Chanceinhell™ Fixed |
SK-5 | High-Carbon Tool Steel | Bushcraft, axes, large blades | Excellent edge retention and toughness; requires coating to prevent corrosion. | Axe: Skeggox Axe |
D2 | Semi-Stainless Tool Steel | EDC, tactical, hunting, kitchen | High wear resistance; tough for high-carbon steel; some corrosion resistance. |
|
3Cr13MoV | Budget-friendly stainless | EDC, general use, tools | Very affordable; good corrosion resistance but lower edge retention and hardness. | EDC: K.I.S.S.® Keep. It. Super. Simple.
|
5Cr15MoV | Budget-friendly stainless | EDC, general use, tools | Slightly better than 3Cr13MoV in edge retention and hardness. | EDC: Scribe™ |
8Cr13MoV 8Cr14MoV | Budget-friendly stainless | EDC, general use, tools | Decent corrosion resistance and toughness; 8Cr14MoV is a slight step up from 8Cr13MoV. | EDC: Pilar® III Frame Lock
|
420J2 | Budget-friendly Stainless | EDC, tools | Very affordable and corrosion-resistant, but low edge retention and hardness. Can be suitable for various applications with proper care and coating. | EDC: Snap Lock™ Folder |
Find Your Next Knife at CRKT
From the blade to the handle to the weight in your palm, a knife is never just a knife. At CRKT, we collaborate with trendsetting designers to push the limits of fit and finish. Whether on the hunt for your next pocket knife or a piece pretty enough to display, CRKT’s impressive collection will never leave you empty-handed.