Kershaw blades are made from a range of steels, each with their own strengths in edge retention, corrosion resistance, and sharpening ease.
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: 59β61
TOUGHNESS: 6/10
EDGE RETENTION: 9/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 7/10
SHARPENING EASE: 2/10

CPM S30VΒ Β Β Β Β Β
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: 59.5β61
TOUGHNESS: 5/10
EDGE RETENTION: 7/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 7/10
SHARPENING EASE: 5/10

CPM 154Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
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: 58β60
TOUGHNESS: 4/10
EDGE RETENTION: 6/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 6/10
SHARPENING EASE: 5/10

SANDVIK 14C28NΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β
This high-performance steel was developed in a partnership between Kershaw and Sandvik Steel. Offers excellent corrosion resistance.
HRC: 58β60
TOUGHNESS: 6/10
EDGE RETENTION: 4/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 6/10
SHARPENING EASE: 6/10

D2Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
This βsemi-stainlessβ tool steel is known for excellent edge retention, wear resistance, and good toughness.
HRC: 59β60
TOUGHNESS: 6/10
EDGE RETENTION: 8/10Β
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 2/10
SHARPENING EASE: 3/10

8CR13MOVΒ Β Β Β Β Β
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: 57β59
EDGE RETENTION: 3/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 3/10
SHARPENING EASE: 8/10

8CR14MOVΒ Β Β Β Β Β
The formula for this steel has additional chromium for added stain resistance. It also benefits from Kershawβs expertise in precision heat treatment.
HRC: 58β59
7CR17MOV
Similar to 440A stainless steel, but with a formula that has added molybdenum and vanadium to improve hardness and wear resistance.
HRC: 57β59
Β
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 βflexβ is desirable, for example, in fillet knives.
HRC: 56β58
EDGE RETENTION: 2/10
CORROSION RESISTANCE: 8/10
SHARPENING EASE: 9/10

DIN 1.4116Β Β
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: 55β57
65MN
A tough, durable carbon steel designed for hard-use tools such as Kershawβs Camp Series machetes.
HRC: 56
3CR13
A value-priced high-chromium stainless steel.
HRC: 54β56
4CR14
A value-priced steel; very highly stain resistant.
HRC: 55β57
STEEL ELEMENTS
Carbon (C) | Chromium (Cr) | Molybddenum (Mo) | Vanadium (V) | Tungsten (W) | Cobalt (Co) | Nickel (Ni) | Manganese (Mn) | Silicon (Si) | Sulphur (S) | Phosphous (P) | Copper (Cu)Β | Niobium (Nb) | Nitrogen (N) | |
CPM S30V | 1.45 | 14 | 2 | 4 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 0.2 |
CPM 154 | 1.05 | 14 | 4 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
14C28N | 0.62 | 14 | 0.55 | β | β | β | β | β | 0.25 | 0.015 | 0.03 | β | β | 0.08 |
8Cr13MoV | 0.8 | 13 | 0.15 | 0.1 | β | β | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.01 | 0.02 | β | β | β |
8Cr14MoV | Β 0.75β0.8 | 13.5β14 | 0.20β0.25 | 0.10β0.15 | β | β | β | 0.3β0.6 | 0.3β0.6 | 0.03 | 0.035 | β | β | β |
420J | 0.4β0.5 | 12β14 | 0.6 | 0.18 | β | β | β | 0.8 | 1 | 0.02 | 0.05 | β | β | β |
420HC | 0.46 | 13 | β | 0.3 | β | β | β | 0.4 | 0.4 | - | β | β | β | β |
D2 | 1.4β1.6 | 11β13 | 0.7β1.2 | 1.1 | β | β | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | β | β | β | β | β |
DIN 1.4116 | 0.45β0.55 | 14β15 | 0.5β0.8 | 0.1β0.2 | β | β | β | 1 | 1 | 0.015 | 0.04 | β | β | β |
65Mn | 0.57β0.70 | β | β | β | β | β | β | 0.6β0.9 | β | 0.05 | 0.04 | β | β | β |
3Cr13 | 0.35 | 13.5 | 0.6 | β | β | β | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | β | β | β | β | β |
4Cr14 | 0.38 | 13.94 | 0.12 | 0.08 | β | β | 0.14 | 0.41 | 0.41 | 0.003 | 0.02 | β | β | β |