W2 knife steel
W2 is a carbon / low-alloy knife steel, typically hardened to HRC 58-62.
| Type | Carbon / low-alloy |
|---|---|
| Hardness | HRC 58-62 |
| Edge retention | mediumhigher than 5 of 48, tied with 13 |
| Corrosion resistance | lowamong the lowest of 49 |
| Toughness | highhigher than 25 of 48, tied with 14 |
| Ease of sharpening | easy to sharpeneasier to sharpen than 35 of 48, tied with 13 |
| Price tier | Mid |
| Best for | Outdoor / bushcraftKitchen |
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Similar carbon / low-alloy steels
| Steel | Type | HRC | Edge | Corrosion | Toughness | Tier | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1075 | Carbon / low-alloy | 56-58 | low | low | very high | Budget | Knives → |
| 1084 | Carbon / low-alloy | 58-60 | medium | low | high | Budget | Knives → |
| 1095 | Carbon / low-alloy | 56-58 | medium | low | high | Budget | Knives → |
| 5160 | Carbon / low-alloy | 57-60 | medium | low | very high | Budget | Knives → |
| 80CrV2 | Carbon / low-alloy | 58-60 | medium | low | very high | Budget | Knives → |
| 52100 | Carbon / low-alloy | 60-64 | high | low | high | Mid | Knives → |
All carbon / low-alloy steels · every steel · best for a purpose