Nitro-V steel
Nitro-V is a conventional stainless steel from Buderus Edelstahl. It rates 3/10 for edge retention, 8/10 for toughness and 7/10 for corrosion resistance, and is usually hardened to 59–62 HRC.
At a glance
- Type
- Stainless steels
- Hardness
- 59–62 HRC
- Maker
- Buderus Edelstahl (for New Jersey Steel Baron) (Germany / USA)
- Process
- ingot
- Price tier
- Mid-range
- Used by
- Civivi, Kizer, Bradford, Spyderco (select), custom makers
- Also called
- NitroV
Composition
| Element | Weight % |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.68 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 13 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.08 |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.11 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.65 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.45 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.025 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.015 |
Source: manufacturer datasheet. Nominal values; where a range is published, the midpoint is shown. Phosphorus and sulfur, where listed, are maximums.
What makes Nitro-V behave the way it does
Nitro-V contains 0.68% carbon, enough to reach typical knife hardness; 13% chromium for corrosion resistance.
A small vanadium addition (0.08%) mainly refines grain size; nitrogen (0.11%) partly takes the place of carbon, which helps corrosion resistance.
AEB-L with N and V additions for hardenability and grain refinement.
Equivalent and similar steels
Knives in Nitro-V
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civivi Button Lock Elementum II | Civivi | 2.96" | 3.12 oz | Button lock | $76.50 | Blade HQ |
| Civivi Baby Banter Slip Joint | Civivi | 2.34" | 2.36 oz | Slip joint | $75 | Blade HQ |
| Civivi Zygon | Civivi | 3.24" | 3.37 oz | Crossbar lock | $79.70 | Blade HQ |
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How to sharpen Nitro-V
Nitro-V 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 Nitro-V with
FAQ
Is Nitro-V a good knife steel?
Nitro-V is strongest in ease of sharpening (9/10) and weakest in edge retention (3/10). Its average across the four ratings is 6.8/10, and it sits in the mid-range price tier.
Does Nitro-V rust?
Not in normal use. Nitro-V rates 7/10 for corrosion resistance; wipe it dry after contact with salt or acidic food.
Is Nitro-V hard to sharpen?
Nitro-V 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 Nitro-V?
Knives in Nitro-V are usually hardened to 59–62 HRC. Makers can run it outside that range; harder means better edge retention but lower toughness.