Steel is the main characteristic of the blade. Of course, steel is not the only measure of a knife's quality. Important indicators include the shape and hardening of the blade, the degree of comfort of its handle, the materials that were used to make all the elements of the product. But knowing only the composition of the steel, you can safely assess the quality of the knife.
Even an amateur can assume that a knife made of fairly soft steel will quickly wear out and become dull, while a blade made of hard grades of steel with a large amount of carbon will crumble under loads. Therefore, it is very important here to opt for the “golden mean”.
What is included in steel
In simple terms, steel is just a mixture of iron and carbon. At the same time, if the alloy contains too much carbon, then the result will be cast iron, and if, on the contrary, too little, then as a result, tin will come out. But in the golden mean is steel. Different grades of this metal are determined not so much by the proportions of carbon and iron included in its composition, but by various impurities and additives that have a different effect on the behavior of a steel product. Usually, the composition of steel in different proportions includes chromium, carbon, silicon, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel, vanadium, sulfur.
Steel for the production of knives
KHVG steel, a complex alloyed non-heat-resistant steel of high hardness, is especially loved among craftsmen for making cutting tools. Due to the fact that steel deforms little during quenching, the blades made of it are quite simple to manufacture, perfectly sharpen and are equipped with a decent strength of the cutting edge. At the same time, this grade of steel has a very weak corrosion resistance, which is why steel products are additionally blued or chrome plated.
Medical steel
The 65X13 brand belongs to the group of the most popular steels for the production of knives. The letter "x" in the name of the grade denotes chromium in its composition, which refers the metal to the order of stainless steel. Surgical scalpels and other medical instruments are most often made of this metal, as the name itself suggests. This is a relatively soft steel, knives from it are quickly sharpened, but they are also easily dull, and the indisputable advantages include the fact that it really does not rust. Medical steel is used for the production of all domestic consumer goods for working knives, with an optimal price-quality ratio.
Tool steel
For the production of industrial tools, stamps, hand saws, the X6VF brand is used. Knives made from this steel grade have a decent cutting edge resistance combined with excellent strength and corrosive properties. Tool steel is excellent for making short hunting knives.
