1095 vs 80CrV2
80CrV2 is tougher, and the two tie on edge retention, corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening. 1095 does not beat 80CrV2 on any rating, so pick it for a specific knife rather than for the steel.
Who wins each property
Side by side
| 1095 | 80CrV2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Carbon steels | Carbon steels |
| Hardness | 56–60 HRC | 57–60 HRC |
| Edge retention | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Toughness | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Corrosion resistance | 1/10 | 1/10 |
| Ease of sharpening | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Price tier | Budget | Budget |
| Maker | Generic (AISI/SAE) | Generic (DIN) / Buderus / Uddeholm |
Composition
| Element | 1095 | 80CrV2 |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.95 | 0.8 |
| Chromium (Cr) | — | 0.5 |
| Vanadium (V) | — | 0.2 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.2 | 0.25 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.04 | 0.025 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.05 | 0.015 |
Property by property
Edge retention
Both rate 3/10 for edge retention. Vanadium: 0% vs 0.2%; more vanadium carbide generally means more wear resistance.
Toughness
80CrV2 is tougher: 8/10 against 5/10 for 1095, a 3-point gap.
Corrosion resistance
Both rate 1/10 for corrosion resistance. Chromium: 0% vs 0.5%, though what matters is the chromium left in solution, not the total.
Ease of sharpening
Both rate 9/10 for ease of sharpening.
Knives in each steel
1095
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESEE Izula-II | ESEE | 2.63" | 3.2 oz | — | $130.16 | Blade HQ |
| ESEE-4 | ESEE | 4.5" | 8 oz | — | $143.50 | Blade HQ |
| ESEE-6 | ESEE | 6.5" | 12 oz | — | $175.28 | Blade HQ |
80CrV2
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winkler Knives WK Belt Knife | Winkler Knives | 4.5" | 6.7 oz | — | $350 | Blade HQ |
| Winkler Knives WK Blue Ridge Hunter | Winkler Knives | 4" | — | — | $325 | Blade HQ |
| Böker DBK Bushfriend 2000 | Böker | 4.33" | 5.64 oz | — | $279 | Blade HQ |
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FAQ
Which is better, 1095 or 80CrV2?
80CrV2 is tougher, and the two tie on edge retention, corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening. 1095 does not beat 80CrV2 on any rating, so pick it for a specific knife rather than for the steel.
Which is harder, 1095 or 80CrV2?
1095 is typically run at 56–60 HRC and 80CrV2 at 57–60 HRC.
Is 1095 or 80CrV2 more rust resistant?
Neither: both rate 1/10. Both are carbon steels.