most popular steel types used in knives REVIEW BY JIM BAUDO

TITANIUM is only a marginally acceptable metal for a knife blade. It cannot be hardened much past the mid 40's of the Rockwell C scale. throwing knives ARE MADE OF THIS METAL.

0-1 is perhaps the most WORKABLE of any knife quality steel other than the very simple alloy types, and produces a blade of excellent quality for most normal use. It can be heat treated very easily.

0-6 is the next step up from 0-1 easy heat treat but TOUGH to SHARPEN, BUT Edges STAY incredible SHARP, LONG lasting even longer than the best Damascus and even 0-1. WHEN I SHARPEN THIS STEEL IT Has an odd, rather orange spark IT GIVES OFF.

W-1, W-2, and the series of 10-- steels from 1045 through 1095. THE LOWER NUMBERS ARE USED IN FILES AND TRUCK SPRINGS.  excellent KNIFE BLADE with 1095, W-1 or W-2.

A-2 is an exceptional steel. IT will also make fine blades.

440C was the first generally accepted knife makers' stainless and remains quite popular, particularly since the sub-zero process was developed to add toughness. On the grinder, it's gummy and gets hot fast, but it cuts a lot faster and easier than any of  the carbon steels. Your belts will cut about 2 to 3 times as much 440-C than 0-1. Using hand hacksaws on it will wear out a lot of blades in a hurry. But with the proper care, good heat treating and finishing, 440C produces an excellent, serviceable and durable knife, even for the new knife maker. Anneals at very low temperature.  440A and 440B are similar alloys, often confused with 440C, but not worth a damn for knife making.

ATS-34 Japanese made stainless. Import restrictions have been eased somewhat, although they were forced to raise the price by 50%.   ATS-34 is a trade name.USED BY BUCK ON SOME MODELS

420 modified stainless, has been successfully used by some commercial knife producers,  USED BY BUCK ON SOME MODELS

VASCO WEAR is rather expensive but very, very good in edge holding. Resists SHARPENING too!