What does “CPM” mean? What’s the difference between carbon and stainless? Which knife steels have the most chromium or tungsten? Find out below with these knife steel composition charts.
Our charts are categorized by steel type: Carbon steel, tool steel, and stainless steel.
Table of Contents
- Knife Steel Composition Charts
- How Composition Affects Knife Performance
- What is CPM Steel?
- What Else Affects Knife Performance
Knife Steel Composition Charts
Click on each column to sort by steel names, percentage of a particular element, or by Rockwell Hardness Rating.
Carbon Steel Compositions
Carbon steel is any steel with a higher concentration of carbon than any other element. Carbon steels are harder than stainless steels, but they’re also more brittle and rust more easily.
Carbon steels can have the same elements as tool steel and stainless steel — they just have to be in lower concentrations, by percent, than the carbon itself.
Most carbon knife steels have a carbon content of 0.80% to 1.10%.
| Steel | Carbon | Chromium | Molybdenum | Vanadium | Cobalt | Nickel | Manganese | Silicon | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1084 | 0.84 | - | - | - | - | - | 0.75 | - | 45 - 66 |
| 1095 | 0.90 - 1.03 | - | - | - | - | - | 0.3 - 0.5 | - | 56 - 60 |
| 1095 CroVan | 0.95 - 1.1 | 0.4 - 0.6 | 0.06 | 0.15 - 0.25 | - | 0.25 | 0.3 - 0.5 | 0.15 - 0.25 | 56 - 60 |
| 52100 | 0.98 - 1.1 | 1.3 - 1.6 | - | - | - | - | 0.25 - 0.45 | - | 58 - 62 |
Tool Steel Compositions
Tool steel is like carbon steel, but with high concentrations of carbides that provide high hardness and wear resistance. Tool steels tend to have large amounts of Molybdenum, Vanadium, Cobat, Nickel, and Manganese.
These elements all form carbides that contribute to hardness and strength.
For carbides to form, these elements need to bond with carbon. So, tool steels often have more carbon than actual carbon steel.
| Steel | Carbon | Chromium | Molybdenum | Vanadium | Cobalt | Nickel | Manganese | Silicon | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-2 | 0.95 - 1.05 | 5 | 0.9 - 1.4 | 0.15 - 0.5 | - | 0.3 | 1 | 0.35 | 58 - 60 |
| O-1 | 0.85 - 1 | 0.5 | - | 0.3 | - | 0.3 | 1 - 1.4 | 0.5 | 56 - 58 |
| D-2 | 1.4 - 1.6 | 12 | 0.7 - 1.2 | 1.1 | - | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 57 - 61 |
| CPM-15V | 3.4 | 5.25 | 1.3 | 14.5 | - | - | 0.5 | - | 61 - 63 |
| M-2 | 0.95 - 1.05 | 4 | 4.75 - 6.5 | 2.25 - 2.75 | - | 0.3 | 0.15 - 0.4 | 0.2 | 61 - 63 |
| CRUWEAR | 1.1 | 7.3 | 1.6 | 2.4 | - | - | - | 1.2 | 60 - 65 |
| CPM-3V | 0.8 | 7.5 | 1.3 | 2.75 | - | - | - | - | 58 - 60 |
| CPM-4V | 1.35 | 5 | 2.95 | 3.85 | - | - | 0.4 | 0.8 | 62 - 64 |
| MagnaCut | 1.15 | 10.7 | 2 | 4 | - | - | - | - | 62 - 64 |
| CPM-M4 | 1.4 | 4 | 5.25 | 4 | - | - | - | 0.55 | 60 - 62 |
| MAXAMET | 2.15 | 4.8 | - | 6 | 10 | - | 0.3 | 0.25 | 67 - 70 |
| K390 | 2.5 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 2 | - | 0.4 | 0.55 | 64 - 65 |
| CPM-10V | 2.45 | 5.25 | 1.3 | 9.75 | - | - | 0.5 | - | 58 - 60 |
Stainless Steel Compositions
Any steel is considered stainless if it has a Chromium content of 10.5% or more. Chromium is the element that gives stainless steel its high rust and corrosion resistance.
It’s also the main element that facilitates carbide formation between carbon and the other elements present in steel.
Chromium also contributes to hardenability. This is why ultra-hard knife “super steels” (like ZDP-189, Elmax, and S110V) are stainless alloys that have high a percentage of Chromium in their compositions.
| Steel | Carbon | Chromium | Molybdenum | Vanadium | Cobalt | Nickel | Manganese | Silicon | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZDP-189 | 3 | 20 | 1.4 | 0.1 | - | - | 0.5 | 0.4 | 64 - 67 |
| CPM-20CV | 1.9 | 20 | 1 | 4 | - | - | 0.3 | 0.3 | 59 - 62 |
| CTS-204P | 1.9 | 20 | 1 | 4 | - | - | 0.35 | 0.6 | 60 - 62 |
| M390 | 1.9 | 20 | 1 | 4 | - | - | 0.3 | 0.7 | 60 - 62 |
| LV-04 | 0.9 | 18 | 1.15 | 0.1 | - | - | 0.7 | - | 59 |
| ELMAX | 1.7 | 18 | 1 | 3 | - | - | 0.3 | 0.8 | 58 - 62 |
| N680 | 0.54 | 17.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | - | - | 0.4 | 0.45 | 56 - 58 |
| CPM-S60V | 2.15 | 17 | 0.4 | 5.5 | - | - | 0.4 | 0.4 | 58 - 60 |
| N690 | 1.07 | 17 | - | 0.1 | 1.5 | - | - | 0.4 | 58 - 60 |
| 9Cr18MoV | 0.95 | 17 - 19 | 1 | - | - | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 58 - 60 |
| 440A | 0.65 - 0.75 | 16 - 18 | 0.75 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 55 -57 |
| 440B | 0.75 - 0.95 | 16 - 18 | 0.75 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 57 - 59 |
| 440C | 0.95 - 1.20 | 16 - 18 | 0.75 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 57 - 59 |
| CPM-S45VN | 1.48 | 16 | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 59 - 61 |
| CTS-XHP | 1.6 | 16 | 0.8 | 0.45 | - | 0.35 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 60 - 64 |
| CTS-BD1 | 0.9 | 15.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | - | - | 0.6 | 0.37 | 58 - 60 |
| X-15 TN | 0.42 | 15.6 | 1.7 | 0.29 | - | 0.3 | 0.46 | 0.23 | 58 - 60 |
| G-2 | 0.9 | 15.5 | 0.3 | - | - | - | 0.6 | 0.35 | 56 - 58 |
| GIN-1 | 0.9 | 15 - 17 | 0.3 | - | - | - | 0.6 | 0.35 | 56 - 58 |
| CPM-S110V | 2.9 | 15 | 2.25 | 9.1 | 2.5 | - | 0.4 | 0.6 | 60 - 64 |
| X50CrMoV15 | 0.55 | 15 | 0.8 | 0.2 | - | - | 1 | 0.5 | 54 - 55 |
| VG-10 | 0.95 - 1.05 | 14.5 - 15.5 | 0.9 - 1.2 | 0.1 - 0.3 | 1.3 - 1.5 | - | 0.5 | - | 59 - 61 |
| 5Cr15MoV | 0.45 - 0.5 | 14.5 - 15 | 0.6 | 0.1 | - | - | 0.4 | - | 55 - 57 |
| BG-42 | 1.15 | 14.5 | 4 | 1.2 | - | - | 0.5 | 0.3 | 61 - 62 |
| T6MoV | 0.6 | 14.2 | 0.65 | 0.1 | - | 0.23 | - | 1 | 54 - 56 |
| H1 | 0.15 | 14 - 16 | 0.5 - 1.5 | - | - | 6 - 8 | 2 | 3 - 4.5 | 57 - 58 |
| 14-4CrMo | 1.05 | 14 | 4 | - | - | - | 0.5 | 0.3 | 60 - 62 |
| ATS-34 | 1.05 | 14 | 4 | - | - | - | 0.4 | 0.35 | 59 - 61 |
| CPM-154 | 1.05 | 14 | 4 | - | - | - | 0.6 | 0.8 | 59 - 61 |
| CPM-S30V | 1.45 | 14 | 2 | 4 | - | - | - | 0.5 | 59 - 61 |
| CPM-S35VN | 1.34 | 14 | 2 | 3 | - | - | 0.5 | 0.5 | 59 - 61 |
| CPM-S90V | 2.3 | 14 | 1 | 9 | - | - | 0.5 | 0.5 | 56 - 58 |
| ATS-55 | 1 | 14 | 0.6 | - | 0.4 | - | 0.5 | 0.4 | 59 - 61 |
| T5MoV | 0.5 | 14 | 0.35 | 0.15 | - | - | - | - | 56 - 58 |
| CPM-S125V | 3.3 | 14 | 0.2 | 11.85 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.25 | 0.9 | 62 - 64 |
| 14C28N | 0.62 | 14 | - | - | - | - | 0.6 | 0.2 | 55 - 62 |
| 154CM | 1.05 | 13.5 - 14 | 4 | 0.4 | - | - | 0.5 | 0.3 - 0.8 | 58 - 62 |
| 9Cr13CoMoV | 0.85 | 13.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 58 - 60 |
| 12C27 | 0.6 | 13.5 | - | - | - | - | 0.4 | 0.4 | 57 - 59 |
| 19C27 | 0.95 | 13.5 | - | - | - | - | 0.7 | 0.4 | 61 - 62 |
| LV-03 | 0.95 | 13.5 | - | - | - | - | 0.65 | - | 58 - 60 |
| 8Cr13MoV | 0.8 | 13 - 14.5 | 0.15 | 0.1 | - | 0.2 | 1 | 1 | 58 - 59 |
| 8Cr15MoV | 0.75 | 13 - 14.5 | 0.15 | 0.1 | - | 0.49 | 0.5 | 1 | 58 - 59 |
| AUS-10 | 0.95 - 1.1 | 13 - 14.5 | 0.1 - 0.31 | 0.1 - 0.27 | - | 0.49 | 0.5 | 1 | 58 - 60 |
| AUS-8 | 0.7 - 0.75 | 13 - 14.5 | 0.1 - 0.3 | 0.1 - 0.26 | - | 0.49 | 0.5 | 1 | 57 - 59 |
| AUS-4 | 0.4 - 0.45 | 13 - 14.5 | - | - | - | 0.49 | 1 | - | 55 - 57 |
| AUS-6 | 0.55 - 0.65 | 13 - 14.5 | - | 0.1 - 0.25 | - | 0.49 | 1 | 1 | 55 - 57 |
| 420HC | 0.4 - 0.5 | 13 | 0.6 | 0.3 | - | - | 0.4 | 0.4 | 56 - 58 |
| 13C26 | 0.68 | 13 | - | - | - | - | 0.65 | 0.4 | 58 - 60 |
| 420 | 0.15 | 12 - 14 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 49 - 53 |
| K110 | 1.40 - 1.65 | 11 - 13 | 0.8 | 0.95 | - | - | 0.35 | 0.5 | 58 - 60 |
How Composition Affects Knife Performance
The various metallic and nonmetallic elements found in these knife steel composition charts are what determine a blade’s cutting ability, sharpness potential, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and toughness.
Learn how carbides and elements contribute to knife performance.
What is CPM Steel?
“CPM” stands for “Crucible Particle Metallurgy.” That’s a fancy way of saying the steel is forged not from a poured ingot, but from powdered metal particles. Traditional ingots’ carbides tend to separate and “clump” together, creating a steel with inconsistent hardness, tensile strength, and toughness.
Powdered steels fix this problem by providing more evenly distributed carbides. This also results in a more uniform and smaller grain structure. That means the forged blade is stronger, tougher, and stays sharper for longer.
What Else Affects Knife Performance
Now you understand the elements and properties of knife steels. Learn what other factors affect performance of any knife: