✅1. VG10 Steel — Balanced High-Carbon Stainless Steel🔪 

• Characteristics: High-carbon stainless steel, excellent corrosion resistance, good toughness.

• Sharpness & Retention: Holds a sharp edge for a long time, easy to sharpen.

• Usage: Popular in Japanese-style chef knives.

✅2. Stainless Steel (e.g., 440C, AUS-8, 8Cr13MoV)🔪 

• Characteristics: Highly corrosion-resistant, easy maintenance, generally lower hardness.

• Sharpness & Retention: Good initial sharpness but wears faster than high-carbon steels.

• Usage: Common in affordable or everyday knives.

✅3. Carbon Steel (e.g., 1095, 5160, W2)🔪 

• Characteristics: High carbon content, excellent hardness and sharpness, prone to rust.

• Sharpness & Retention: Extremely sharp edges with outstanding retention, but requires diligent care.

• Usage: Traditional knives, outdoor knives, artisan blades.

✅4. Damascus Steel🔪 

• Characteristics: Made by layering different steels, it is known for its striking patterns and toughness.

• Sharpness & Retention: Combines properties of layered steels; can be very sharp and durable.

• Usage: High-end chef knives and collector’s pieces.

✅5. Powder Metallurgy Steels (e.g., CPM S30V, S35VN, M390)🔪 

• Characteristics: Manufactured with advanced powder metallurgy for superior purity and uniformity.

• Sharpness & Retention: Excellent edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness.

• Usage: Premium knives, professional and tactical knives.

✅6. High-Speed Steel (e.g., M2, M4)🔪 

• Characteristics: Traditionally used in industrial cutting tools, very hard and wear-resistant.

• Sharpness & Retention: Extremely sharp and durable edges but harder to sharpen.

• Usage: Specialty knives and tools.

✅7. Ceramic Blades🔪 

• Characteristics: Made from zirconium dioxide, ultra-hard but brittle.

• Sharpness & Retention: Maintains sharpness exceptionally long but chips easily.

• Usage: Lightweight kitchen knives, specialty slicing.

How Blade Material Directly Influences Sharpness:

• Hardness (HRC): Higher hardness usually means sharper edges and longer retention but also more brittleness.

• Toughness: Ability to resist chipping and breaking, important for everyday use.

• Corrosion Resistance: Materials with good rust resistance require less maintenance and keep edges cleaner.

• Sharpenability: Some steels are easier to sharpen at home, while others need professional tools.

Final Tip from ARTIDGE:

Choosing the right blade material is about balancing sharpness, durability, maintenance, and your cooking needs.
Our knives are carefully crafted with materials selected to deliver excellent sharpness and long-lasting performance for both home cooks and professionals.

Invest in the right blade material, and your knife will stay sharp, reliable, and beautiful for years.