Carbon steels for knives
Simple carbon and low-alloy steels: easy to sharpen and often tough, but they rust and patina without care.
| Steel | Type | HRC | Edge | Toughness | Corrosion | Sharpening | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80CrV2 | Carbon steels | 57–60 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 9 | Budget |
| Shirogami #2 | Carbon steels | 61–64 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 10 | Mid-range |
| 1095 | Carbon steels | 56–60 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 9 | Budget |