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- 1800 SW Teton Avenue
- Tualatin, OR 97062
- Phone: 503-682-1966
- Toll Free: 800-325-2891
- Fax: 503-682-7168
- kaiusa.com
Blade Steels
Kershaw blades are made from a range of steels, each with their own strengths in edge retention, corrosion resistance, and sharpening ease.
CPM M4
The formula for this premium tool steel includes high amounts of vanadium and molybdenum. This composition creates exceptional edge retention and toughness.
HRC: 60-62
TOUGHNESS: 7/10
EDGE RETENTION: 9/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 2/10
SHARPENING EASE: 3/10
CPM MagnaCut
This Crucible powdered metallurgy steel eliminates chronium during heat treatment, allowing for vanadium and niobium to form greater carbides near the cutting edge. This formula creates an exceptional balance of edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance.
HRC: 60-62
TOUGHNESS: 8/10
EDGE RETENTION: 7.5/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 9/10
SHARPENING EASE: 2/10
CPM 20CV
This Crucible powdered metallurgy tool steel has a high volume of vanadium carbides for exceptional wear resistance and edge retention. The highest level of chromium of any high-vanadium steel gives it excellent corrosion resistance.
HRC: 59–61
TOUGHNESS: 6/10
EDGE RETENTION: 9/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 7/10
SHARPENING EASE: 2/10
CPM S30V
Large carbides in this all-around premium knife steel make it take and hold an edge extremely well; it is also very tough and wear resistant.
HRC: 59.5–61
TOUGHNESS: 5/10
EDGE RETENTION: 7/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 7/10
SHARPENING EASE: 5/10
CPM 154
This powdered metallurgy steel has a more uniform distribution of carbides, so it takes and holds an excellent edge. Also offers good corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and toughness.
HRC: 58–60
TOUGHNESS: 4/10
EDGE RETENTION: 6/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 6/10
SHARPENING EASE: 5/10
14C28N
This high-performance steel was developed in a partnership between Kershaw and a Swedish engineering company specializing in stainless and special steel alloys. 14C28N offers excellent corrosion resistance.
HRC: 58–60
TOUGHNESS: 6/10
EDGE RETENTION: 4/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 6/10
SHARPENING EASE: 6/10
D2
This “semi-stainless” tool steel is known for excellent edge retention, wear resistance, and good toughness.
HRC: 59–60
TOUGHNESS: 6/10
EDGE RETENTION: 8/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 2/10
SHARPENING EASE: 3/10
8Cr13MoV
Kershaw precision heat-treats 8Cr13MoV steel to bring out its very best high-performance characteristics: the ability to take and hold an edge, strength, and hardness.
HRC: 57–59
EDGE RETENTION: 3/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 3/10
SHARPENING EASE: 8/10
8Cr14MoV
The formula for this steel has additional chromium for added stain resistance. It also benefits from Kershaw’s expertise in precision heat treatment.
HRC: 58–59
7Cr17Mov
Similar to 440A stainless steel, but with a formula that has added molybdenum and vanadium to improve hardness and wear resistance.
HRC: 57–59
420HC
This modified 420 steel has higher amounts of carbon and chromium to boost hardenability and corrosion resistance. It is an excellent everyday steel: tough, corrosion resistant, easy to sharpen, and takes a good edge.
HRC: 58
EDGE RETENTION: 3/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 7/10
SHARPENING EASE: 9/10
420J
Highly stain resistant, but ductile, this steel is excellent for use where “flex” is desirable, for example, in fillet knives.
HRC: 56–58
EDGE RETENTION: 2/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 8/10
SHARPENING EASE: 9/10
Din 1.4116
Exceptionally corrosion resistant and very tough, this German stainless steel is one of the most popular steels for kitchen knives. It is very easy to re-sharpen when the time comes.
HRC: 55–57
65Mn
A tough, durable carbon steel designed for hard-use tools such as Kershaw’s Camp Series machetes.
HRC: 56
3Cr13
A value-priced high-chromium stainless steel.
HRC: 54–56
4Cr14
A value-priced steel; very highly stain resistant.
HRC: 55–57
Steel Elements
| Carbon (C) | Chromium (Cr) | Molybdenum (Mo) | Vanadium (V) | Tungsten (W) | Cobalt (Co) | Nickel (Ni) | Manganese (Mn) | Silicon (Si) | Sulphur (S) | Phosphous (P) | Copper (Cu) | Niobium (Nb) | Nitrogen (N) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPM M4 | 1.4% | 4% | 5.2% | 4% | 5.5% | – | – | 0.3% | 0.55% | 0.06% | 0.03% | – | 2 | 0.2% |
| CPM MagnaCut | 1.15% | 10.7% | 2% | 4% | - | – | – | - | - | – | – | – | 2% | 0.2% |
| CPM 20CV | 1.9% | 20% | 1% | 4% | 0.6% | – | – | 0.3% | 0.3% | – | – | – | – | – |
| CPM S30V | 1.45% | 14% | 2% | 4% | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0.2% |
| CPM 154 | 1.05% | 14% | 4% | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 14C28N | 0.62% | 14% | 0.55% | – | – | – | – | – | 0.25% | 0.015% | 0.03% | – | – | 0.08% |
| 8Cr13MoV | 0.8% | 13% | 0.15% | 0.1% | – | – | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.01% | 0.02% | – | – | – |
| 8Cr14MoV | 0.75–0.8% | 13.5–14% | 0.20–0.25% | 0.10–0.15% | – | – | – | 0.3–0.6% | 0.3–0.6% | 0.03% | 0.035% | – | – | – |
| 420J | 0.4–0.5% | 12–14% | 0.6% | 0.18% | – | – | – | 0.8% | 1% | 0.02% | 0.05% | – | – | – |
| 420HC | 0.46% | 13% | – | 0.3% | – | – | – | 0.4% | 0.4% | - | – | – | – | – |
| D2 | 1.4–1.6% | 11–13% | 0.7–1.2% | 1.1% | – | – | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.6% | – | – | – | – | – |
| DIN 1.4116 | 0.45–0.55% | 14–15% | 0.5–0.8% | 0.1–0.2% | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 0.015% | 0.04% | – | – | – |
| 65Mn | 0.57–0.70% | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0.6–0.9% | – | 0.05% | 0.04% | – | – | – |
| 3Cr13 | 0.35% | 13.5% | 0.6% | – | – | – | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.8% | – | – | – | – | – |
| 4Cr14 | 0.38% | 13.94% | 0.12% | 0.08% | – | – | 0.14% | 0.41% | 0.41% | 0.003% | 0.02% | – | – | – |