High Carbon Knives vs Stainless Steel Knives

High Carbon Knives vs Stainless Steel Knives

What’s the best steel for a knife?  The answer depends solely on the person who asks. There are so many types of steel out there that I would have to write a textbook size article to go through it all, but let’s see what answers we come up with after looking at some basic facts.

High Carbon Knives - Some of the pros of high carbon steel are it’s ability to hold an edge much longer than stainless steel.  In most cases, a simple honing stone or honing rod keeps it sharp for a long time before having to actually sharpen your knife again.  That means you’ll need to remove less material from your knife over time, thus possibly passing that knife on to the next generation.
Some cons of high carbon steels are that high carbon steels are heavier and harder to sharpen.  It takes patience and some would say, a love of sharpening to produce a new edge.  High carbon blades are also more prone to rust if not stored properly.  People often force a patina to help protect the knife.  A patina will occur naturally over time anyway but forcing the process takes away some of the stress of battling rust.  It’s usually a good idea to leave the sheath off of the knife and apply a light coat of oil if it won’t be used for a while to prevent rust damage.

Stainless Steel Knives - Obviously, stainless steel knives are far more rust resistant than their high carbon counterparts.  Nowadays, unless you’re new to knives or have lived under a rock, there are so many types of stainless steel to choose from.  These new steels are lightweight and much better at holding an edge than the steels I grew up with.
The bad news is that stainless steel knives still can’t hold an edge like the high carbon knives do, this includes the new super steels.  It’s doubtful this super steel knife will last a lifetime let alone the next generation if used regularly.  And contrary to their name, the super steel knives still rust.  However, even a little care for super steel knives will usually prevent any rust issues.

These are some basic things to look at if you’re not sure which steel is best for you.  There is no perfect solution for everyone so there are more questions you should ask yourself now that you have a baseline.  We’ll cover some of those questions in the next post.

Look up, seek wisdom, and God bless-