Steel is a common metal that many knives are made from. Its durability and versatility makes it an ideal choice for making high-quality knife blades.
Typically, knife blades are made from either tool steel or stainless steel. These materials have different properties that can influence the strength, durability, hardness, edge retention and rust resistance of a blade.
Iron
When making a knife, the material used to make the blade is one of the most important considerations. Iron is one of the oldest materials for knives and has been used for centuries.
Steel is another popular choice for knife makers as it offers the hardness and toughness necessary to hold a sharp edge for long periods of time. It is also a durable metal that resists rusting.
There are many different types of steel to choose from, but the most common is tool steel. This grade of steel is strong and can contain a number of alloys to achieve additional properties such as oxidation resistance or toughness.
Carbon
If you’re familiar with the periodic table, you know that carbon is one of the most special elements on the planet. It’s the sixth element on the table, and it has a unique place in our lives.
Steel is a metal that’s made from iron and carbon. This mixture creates a hard metal that resists rust and is good at maintaining its shape and cutting edges.
Stainless steel is also a steel, but it contains chromium carbides to make it more resistant to corrosion and abrasion. It’s less prone to rust than carbon steel, but it requires more maintenance such as oiling before putting it away and rinsing it after a long period of use in salty or acidic conditions.
Chromium
Knives that are designed for utility or tactical purposes require hard, tough, and wear-resistant steel. That’s where chromium comes in.
Chromium is a trace mineral that’s naturally found in a variety of foods, but its level can vary from food to food. The highest chromium content is in beef, with 2 micrograms per three-ounce serving.
Research suggests that chromium can help reduce insulin resistance, a condition in which the body’s cells fail to respond to insulin properly. This condition is associated with diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems.
Molybdenum
Molybdenum increases the strength and hardness of a steel. It also helps lower the quenching rate in heat treating and is often used to enhance corrosion resistance in stainless steel.
Another element that makes steel stronger and harder is Vanadium. It is a carbide former that increases toughness and wear resistance, and is often combined with other elements in high-speed steels.
Some knives are made with a ‘core’ of ultra-hard metal and a softer layer on the outside to protect it from damage and make it less likely to chip or break. These are called 3 ply knives.
Manganese
Manganese is a vital mineral in the human body. It’s important for brain health and the functioning of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase.
It’s recommended that people consume at least 11 milligrams of manganese daily. This can be found in nuts, seeds, legumes (like lentils and dry beans), whole grains, and pineapples.
The National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine establish dietary reference intakes (DRI) for nutrients, such as manganese. The DRIs are based on the nutrient needs of healthy individuals and vary by age and gender.
Nickel
Often overlooked by many knife enthusiasts, nickel is a metal that adds toughness to the blade. It also helps the steel retain its strength at high temperatures and resist corrosion.
It is a member of the Iron Group with atomic symbol Ni and atomic number 28. This silvery white, lustrous, ductile, and malleable transition metal is very rare in Earth’s crust.
It was isolated in 1751 by Swedish mineralogist and chemist Baron Axel Fredrik Cronstedt. He originally called it kupfernickel because of its resemblance to copper ore.
Tungsten
Tungsten is a metal which is very hard and very strong. It’s a rare element and so it comes at a high price.
Tungsten was first isolated by the Spanish chemists Fausto Elhuyar and Juan Jose de Elhuyar in 1783. It is named for the Swedish word “tungsten” which means “heavy stone”.
Tungsten can be found in nature as ores, most commonly calcium tungstate (CaWO 4 ) and wolframite (Fe,MnWO 4 ). The most common use of tungsten is as a raw material to create alloys such as tungsten carbide, Hastelloy and some tungsten nickel alloys.