Stainless steel is one of the most popular types of knife steel. It is known for its extreme corrosion resistance and its ability to retain a razor sharp edge.
There are several different types of stainless steels, including 12C27, 14C28N and 440A. Each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Brearley
Harry Brearley was a chemical lab worker and metallurgist who created stainless steel. He was the inventor of a steel that was non-corrosive and could be used in a variety of applications.
Originally, he thought it would be useful for the manufacture of firearms. But he soon realized that stainless steel was much more useful.
He spent the next six years studying and researching metallurgy in his lab at Brown Bayley’s Steel Works in Sheffield, England. He barely stopped to eat, and he learned everything he could about steelmaking.
Then, he started working on a new material with more chromium than had been found before. On 13 August 1913, he made the first true stainless steel.
He was able to sell his invention to Firth’s Steel Company in America and they began making it commercially. But there was a problem: it was more expensive than other steels.
Fleming
Stainless steel has a long history, dating back to 1913 when Harry Brearley was working at the Brown Firth Laboratory in Sheffield. He was experimenting with high chromium steels that would rust less than ordinary iron-based steels.
In his work, he discovered that a mix of 12.8% chromium and 0.24% carbon would produce a rust-resistant steel. He called it “rustless steel” but it was later dubbed “stainless steel.”
Today, most knives are made of some form of high carbon stainless steel. These offer a balance of sharpness, edge retention, easy resharpening and corrosion resistance.
They are also more durable and hold an edge for longer than many non-stainless blades. However, they do need more maintenance and care than other types of knives. This can include hand washing and storing properly. It is also important to choose a handle that feels comfortable and gives you a good sense of control over the knife.
Schrade
Schrade knives are known to be some of the best pocket knives on the market, thanks to their superior quality carbon steel blades. They also feature a frame lock locking mechanism that keeps the knife from opening accidentally.
These Linerlock knives are the perfect addition to any knife collection and can be used for a wide variety of applications. They are made with black powder-coated 1095 high carbon steel blades that provide a razor-sharp edge.
Depending on the model, a Schrade knife may have several different tang stamps. These changes can help collectors narrow down the age of a specific knife.
Schrade Cutlery Company, the parent company of Schrade knives, changed its tang stamp numerous times throughout the years. Collectors can find printouts of tang stamp charts online to identify a knife’s exact year of production.
Swiss Army
Stainless steel knives have been around since the mid-1890s. Originally they were made from carbon steel, but today they are made from a martensitic alloy of iron and other elements.
In Ibach, Switzerland, Victorinox makes the world-famous Swiss Army knife in a facility that turns out millions of them a year. CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman visited the factory and toured the room where all of the parts for the Swiss Army knives are made.
It is hard not to smile as you go from bin to bin showcasing a tool that has been around for 125 years. It is also hard not to be impressed when you see a production line where tens of thousands of these knives are rolled off the line every day.