| As you are searching the internet, perusing | | | | of steel used in the manufacture of knife blades. |
| magazines, or shopping in stores for a hunting | | | | Stainless steel has a high chromium content to |
| knife, you may become confused when reading | | | | help it prevent rust. Contrary to public opinion, it is |
| about all the different types of metal that are | | | | not rust proof. It is simply rust resistant, meaning |
| used in the making of knife blades. You may very | | | | it will resist rusting better than most metals, but if |
| well know what stainless steel, titanium, carbon | | | | not taken care of can succumb to rust. It is not a |
| steel, and even Damascus steel are, but what | | | | very strong metal, thus knife blades made of it |
| about all those other types you read about? | | | | tend to be somewhat cheaper than most. |
| Most people read names like 154 CM, 420, | | | | AUS-8 is a high carbon, low chromium stainless |
| ATS34, AUS-8, CPM440V, etc., but can only | | | | steel. While not quite as rust resistant as stainless |
| shake their heads in bewilderment. If you don't | | | | steel, it tends to be a stronger metal, thus |
| know what those numbers and letters signify, | | | | making it a little more expensive than stainless. |
| then there is no way to know what quality of | | | | VG-10 is a high carbon steel with differing |
| knife you are getting. Why do two seemingly | | | | amounts of chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, |
| identical knives such as the Fallkniven Idun hunting | | | | and cobalt. It is especially popular with kitchen |
| knife (one made of VG10 and the other of | | | | cutlery manufacturers as it will hold an edge and |
| Damascus Steel) have a price difference of | | | | does not become brittle even after it has been |
| $900? | | | | sharpened many times as is common with many |
| Knife blades are made of a combination of metals | | | | hard steels. |
| such as carbon, manganese, chromium, vanadium, | | | | 440A is a durable high carbon stainless steel that |
| nickel, molybdenum, and so forth. Depending on | | | | is used by many manufacturers in the production |
| the composition of the metals used in the | | | | of hunting knives and survival knives. Damascus |
| production of the knife blade, each knife has the | | | | steel was used by the Muslims in the crusades. Its |
| potential to be more expensive to produce, be | | | | exact composition is unknown today, although |
| more resistant to rust, or hold a better edge than | | | | many companies and smiths have experimented |
| those made of cheaper materials. Following is a | | | | in trying to recreate it. It is an especially durable |
| partial list of some of the more common types | | | | metal that tends to be very expensive. |