10/15/2020: I added M398, WFN, Nitrobe 77, and Vancron
2/24/2020: I added 420HC, CPM-T15, Rex 76, S125V, SPY27, and Z-Max/Rex 86
2/10/2020: I added 26C3, 1.2442, 1.2519, 1.2562, Blue Super, V-Toku 2, and A8 Mod.
Month: May 2019
How to Pick the Best Steel for Every Knife
Update 2/19/2021: In the recommendations section I updated a few of my recommendations based on new experiments and new steels.
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How to Heat Treat 52100
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52100 Steel
I previously wrote about the history and properties of 52100 in this article. The steel has been around since 1905, has been known as 52100 since 1919, and has been used in knives since at least the 1940’s. It was developed for bearings and its common use in bearings meant it has been a ready source for knife steel for decades. It is known for its fine carbide size and good toughness. The chromium addition compared with the chromium-free 1095 means that it has somewhat higher hardenability so it is easier to harden in oil and obtain full hardness. The chromium also helps keep the carbide size small. The chromium also shifts up the temperatures required for hardening.
New Steel Bohler M398 – The New King of Edge Retention?
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M398 Steel
Edit 11/19/2020: Since the release of this article I have experimentally evaluated M398, which you can read about here.