14C28N vs 8Cr13MoV
14C28N is tougher, resists corrosion better and is easier to sharpen, and the two tie on edge retention. The biggest gap is toughness (8/10 vs 5/10). 8Cr13MoV does not beat 14C28N on any rating, so pick it for a specific knife rather than for the steel.
Who wins each property
Side by side
| 14C28N | 8Cr13MoV | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Stainless steels | Stainless steels |
| Hardness | 57–60 HRC | 56–59 HRC |
| Edge retention | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Toughness | 8/10 | 5/10 |
| Corrosion resistance | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Ease of sharpening | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Price tier | Budget | Budget |
| Maker | Alleima (Sandvik) | Generic (GB/T, Ahonest Changjiang etc.) |
Composition
| Element | 14C28N | 8Cr13MoV |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.62 | 0.8 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 14 | 13.5 |
| Vanadium (V) | — | 0.1 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | — | 0.15 |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.11 | — |
| Nickel (Ni) | — | 0.2 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.025 | 0.04 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
Property by property
Edge retention
Both rate 3/10 for edge retention. Vanadium: 0% vs 0.1%; more vanadium carbide generally means more wear resistance.
Toughness
14C28N is tougher: 8/10 against 5/10 for 8Cr13MoV, a 3-point gap. Typical hardness: 57–60 vs 56–59 HRC; harder blades trade toughness for edge holding.
Corrosion resistance
14C28N resists corrosion better: 8/10 against 6/10 for 8Cr13MoV, a 2-point gap. Chromium: 14% vs 13.5%, though what matters is the chromium left in solution, not the total.
Ease of sharpening
14C28N is easier to sharpen: 9/10 against 8/10 for 8Cr13MoV, a 1-point gap.
Knives in each steel
14C28N
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kershaw Leek 1660 | Kershaw | 3" | 3 oz | Frame lock | $124.99 | Blade HQ |
| Kershaw Blur 1670BLK | Kershaw | 3.4" | 3.9 oz | Liner lock | $159.99 | Blade HQ |
8Cr13MoV
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spyderco Tenacious | Spyderco | 3.39" | 4.2 oz | Liner lock | $91 | Blade HQ |
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FAQ
Which is better, 14C28N or 8Cr13MoV?
14C28N is tougher, resists corrosion better and is easier to sharpen, and the two tie on edge retention. The biggest gap is toughness (8/10 vs 5/10). 8Cr13MoV does not beat 14C28N on any rating, so pick it for a specific knife rather than for the steel.
Which is harder, 14C28N or 8Cr13MoV?
14C28N is typically run at 57–60 HRC and 8Cr13MoV at 56–59 HRC.
Is 14C28N or 8Cr13MoV more rust resistant?
14C28N (8/10). Both are conventional stainless steels.