The type of metal in a knife is a key factor when buying a knife. This is because metals have different sharpening and edge fastening characteristics.

When determining the type of knife to buy, it is important to know how the knife will be used. There are many different types of blade steel on knives because they are not a unique tool for everyone. The demands of a hunting knife vary from the demands of a damask tracking knife.

Four common metals used for blades are stainless steel, high carbon steel, Damascus and titanium. Below you will find a more complete overview of these materials.

Stainless Steel

The typical stainless steel blade contains at least 12% chromium that helps you resist rust and corrosion. Stainless steel blades are easy to sharpen, but their edge tends to wear out faster. Knives made of stainless steel require less work to maintain appearances.

High Carbon Steel

Carbon-made knives have high edge retention, which means less time sharpening the knives. This also means that the sharpness of a high carbon steel knife cannot be matched. But, these knives do not contain any chromium so they do not resist rust very well.

Damascus

A sheet of Damascus contains a combination of metals. By merging multiple metals, a more durable leaf is created than if you had used a single pure one. If multiple metal bands are sunned in different patterns, the blades are impossible to break.

Titanium

Titanium knives are typically lighter due to their lower density and stronger. They are also corrosion resistant. These blades do not have a high edge retention, so they do not maintain an edge for repeated uses.

Now that you know more about these metals, you need aceses them. Before you have a high quality knife, you need to have high quality metal. Here are five things to keep in mind when rating the metal on your knife.

Hardness

Hardness refers to the knife’s ability to keep its shape undamaged while using it in a variety of conditions. The hardness of a knife is typically measured using a special scale that determines how hard a piece of steel is. This measurement is important because it helps determine the hardness, flexibility and toughness of a knife.

Hardness is measured by the ability of knife steel to bend without breaking and resist ingesting chips or cracks when heavily used.

Wear Resistance

Wear resistance is the ability of steel to prevent damage from adhesion and abrasion. The wear resistance and hardness of the steel go hand in hand.

Resistance To Corrosion

Corrosion resistance is simple, when exposed to salt, moisture and moisture, does steel show signs of rust

Edge Retention

How often will you need to sharpen your knife? A high-quality knife with good edge retention will require less sharpness. This will depend on the quality of the steel and the level and frequency of use.

As the name suggests, high quality knives are made of high quality materials that can withstand their use for many years without the need for a replacement. Properly taking care of your knives and using them only for their intended use can help maintain the quality and performance of your knives.