Description
The ultimate wear-resistant stainless steel. Highest edge retention available in production knives. For extreme applications or collectors who appreciate the extreme.
Properties
Chemical Composition
✓ Pros
Absolute best edge retention available. Will hold an edge almost indefinitely in normal use. Excellent corrosion resistance. Unique collector appeal. Engineering marvel.
✗ Cons
Nearly impossible to sharpen without diamonds. Very brittle - chips easily. Extremely expensive to work. Slow grinding. Impractical for most users.
Grinding Notes
Notoriously difficult to grind. Eats belts rapidly. Only ceramic belts. Very expensive to work. Many knife makers refuse to work with it. Heat treat first if possible.
Polishing Notes
Extremely challenging to polish. Very high carbide content. Streaking is common. Most makers stick to satin finish. Hand polishing requires diamond compound.