14C28N steel
14C28N is a conventional stainless steel from Alleima. It rates 3/10 for edge retention, 8/10 for toughness and 8/10 for corrosion resistance, and is usually hardened to 57–60 HRC.
At a glance
- Type
- Stainless steels
- Hardness
- 57–60 HRC
- Maker
- Alleima (Sandvik) (Sweden)
- Process
- ingot
- Price tier
- Budget
- Used by
- Kershaw, Civivi, Ruike, Real Steel, Morakniv (Garberg, Kansbol), Kizer, QSP
- Also called
- Sandvik 14C28N, Alleima 14C28N
Composition
| Element | Weight % |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.62 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 14 |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.11 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.6 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.2 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.025 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.01 |
Source: manufacturer datasheet. Nominal values; where a range is published, the midpoint is shown. Phosphorus and sulfur, where listed, are maximums.
What makes 14C28N behave the way it does
14C28N contains 0.62% carbon, enough to reach typical knife hardness; 14% chromium for corrosion resistance.
Nitrogen (0.11%) partly takes the place of carbon, which helps corrosion resistance.
Nitrogen-enhanced 13C26 developed with Kershaw; current budget benchmark.
Equivalent and similar steels
Knives in 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 |
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Shop 14C28N knives at Blade HQ
How to sharpen 14C28N
14C28N is easy to sharpen (9/10). Aluminium-oxide and water stones work well, and it takes a fine edge quickly; a ceramic rod or strop keeps it going between sharpenings.
Compare 14C28N with
FAQ
Is 14C28N a good knife steel?
14C28N is strongest in ease of sharpening (9/10) and weakest in edge retention (3/10). Its average across the four ratings is 7.0/10, and it sits in the budget price tier.
Does 14C28N rust?
Not in normal use. 14C28N rates 8/10 for corrosion resistance; wipe it dry after contact with salt or acidic food.
Is 14C28N hard to sharpen?
14C28N is easy to sharpen (9/10). Aluminium-oxide and water stones work well, and it takes a fine edge quickly; a ceramic rod or strop keeps it going between sharpenings.
What hardness is 14C28N?
Knives in 14C28N are usually hardened to 57–60 HRC. Makers can run it outside that range; harder means better edge retention but lower toughness.