N690 steel
N690 is a conventional stainless steel from voestalpine Bohler Edelstahl. It rates 5/10 for edge retention, 4/10 for toughness and 8/10 for corrosion resistance, and is usually hardened to 58–60 HRC.
At a glance
- Type
- Stainless steels
- Hardness
- 58–60 HRC
- Maker
- voestalpine Bohler Edelstahl (Austria)
- Process
- ingot
- Price tier
- Mid-range
- Used by
- Fox Knives, Lionsteel, Boker, Extrema Ratio, Spyderco (select), Viper, Bastinelli
- Also called
- N690Co, Bohler N690, X105CrCoMo18-2
Composition
| Element | Weight % |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1.07 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 17 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.1 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1.1 |
| Cobalt (Co) | 1.5 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.4 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.4 |
Source: manufacturer datasheet. Nominal values; where a range is published, the midpoint is shown. Phosphorus and sulfur, where listed, are maximums.
What makes N690 behave the way it does
N690 contains 1.07% carbon, enough to reach typical knife hardness; 17% chromium for corrosion resistance.
A small vanadium addition (0.1%) mainly refines grain size; molybdenum (1.1%) improves hardenability and pitting resistance; cobalt (1.5%) strengthens the matrix.
European VG-10/440C class steel; staple of Italian knives.
Equivalent and similar steels
- VG-10 class (similar class; compositions differ): VG-10, 10Cr15CoMoV, N690, VG-MAX, ZA-18
Knives in N690
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Knives FX-604 Core OD | Fox Knives | 3.15" | 4.8 oz | Liner lock | — | Blade HQ |
| Fox Knives FX-599 XT Karambit | Fox Knives | 2.56" | 3.5 oz | Back lock | — | Blade HQ |
| Fox Knives FX-534 CF Pelican | Fox Knives | 3.54" | 5.4 oz | Liner lock | — | Blade HQ |
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How to sharpen N690
N690 is moderately easy to sharpen (6/10). Water stones and ceramics work; diamond plates speed up reprofiling or repairing a damaged edge.
Compare N690 with
FAQ
Is N690 a good knife steel?
N690 is strongest in corrosion resistance (8/10) and weakest in toughness (4/10). Its average across the four ratings is 5.8/10, and it sits in the mid-range price tier.
Does N690 rust?
Not in normal use. N690 rates 8/10 for corrosion resistance; wipe it dry after contact with salt or acidic food.
Is N690 hard to sharpen?
N690 is moderately easy to sharpen (6/10). Water stones and ceramics work; diamond plates speed up reprofiling or repairing a damaged edge.
What hardness is N690?
Knives in N690 are usually hardened to 58–60 HRC. Makers can run it outside that range; harder means better edge retention but lower toughness.