Knife Blog

Today, I introduce elements used for knife steels. There are many types of elements used for knife materials, but I introduce representative elements used for knife steels.

1. Carbon
Carbon steel is famous and it obviously includes carbon as its name indicates. It is said to be the only one element that can harden steel. The contained amount of carbon increases from White Paper III to White Paper I or Blue Paper I and White Paper I or Blue paper I knives are generally sharper than White Paper III knives.

2. Chrome
Chrome is added when blue steels are made from white steels. Chrome makes knives sharp for longer time. When more chrome is added, corrosion resistance and burning resistance also increase. Chrome is often used for stainless steel, too. When the contained amount of chrome in stainless is more than 12%. Since Chrome binds with Fe in steel, this stainless steel does not get rust easily. Chrome is also added when VG10 is created from VG1. For your reference, VG1 originally includes chrome.

3. Molybdenum
It is added when VG10 is made from VG1. For your reference, VG1 originally includes Molybdenum. Molybdenum makes knives tenacious, more strong and harder. Molybdenum steel is famous but it is not the specific name of steel, but the inclusive term of steels that include Molybdenum.

4. Tungsten
It is added when Blue steel is made from White steel. It makes steels more strong and harder. Molybdenum makes steels more strong and harder than Tungsten.

5. Vanadium
Vanadium is added when VG10 is made from VG1. Vanadium binds with carbon, so the sharp edge of this steel knives last longer. Moreover, vanadium breaks up steel crystals so that the steels become harder.

6. Cobalt
Cobalt is added when VG10 is made from VG1. It increases tenacity, corrosion resistance and burning resistance.

Recently, customers pay attention to the name of materials., but if you understand main elements used for knife steels, you may be able to understand the difference of every steel more.