Is 9Cr18MoV Steel Good for Knives? [Complete Steel Guide]

Proper research on the knife you’re going to buy is an excellent way to start the hunt. Today we’ll be discussing the answers to questions such as – “What is 9cr18mov steel?” and “Why should you consider getting yourself one?”

Let’s get straight to the point. 9cr18mov steel is every knife keeper’s favorite budget stainless steel. This steel contributes to an extraordinary geometry. But apart from that, it also feels great in hand. Hang on tight as we tour you through everything you need to know about this fantastic steel.

Introduction to 9cr18mov Steel

9cr18mov steel is a top-rated knife among knife keepers because of their amazing edge retention capabilities and metal composition. Apart from being an instant favorite among new users, this steel is also favored by prominent blade manufacturers’ as their go-to steel for their anti-corrosion nature.

Composition

9cr18mov blades consist of nearly 1 percent Carbon and more than 17% (almost 18%) Chromium. These two elements are what bring forward the true nature of the 9cr18mov. Apart from the mentioned elements, the steel also bears the following in it –

• Silicon: 0.8%
• Nickel: 0.6%
• Sulfur: 0.03%
• Molybdenum: 1-1.3%
• Phosphorus: 0.04%
• Vanadium: 0.07-0.12%
• Manganese: 0.8%

Hardnesson Rockwell Scale (HRC)

Every experienced knife keeper is very keen on maintaining their HRC levels. We all know that a strong and durable knife has a steel HRC that ranges between 57-60.

Blade manufacturers can quickly treat a 9cr18mov by applying a precise amount of heat. By doing so, the HRC of the steel can be pushed to somewhere around 58-60 HRC. This doesn’t mean that the blade will be ultra-hard, but substantial enough to easily pass the paper-cut test.

Rust Proofing

Thanks to Chromium, Nickel, and Molybdenum, this stainless has a significant boost in corrosion resistance. So you can basically take the knife anywhere, be it camping or fishing. And if you’re a knife keeper who doesn’t like to oil and maintain his/her knife regularly, then you’re in for some great luck!

But remember that keeping the knife in a moist area for more extended periods might result in a slight rusting of the blunt edges. However, this can easily be avoided if you are a little bit careful about storing your knife. Not a massive tradeoff for a sharp knife, is it?

Edge Retention

9cr18mov is equipped with an 18% Carbon component. This means that the edge retention on this thing deserves high appreciation. Now, even if you’ve never used a knife with this steel, the stats alone should be enough to make you believe how well it holds its edge.

Just in case you’re still not convinced, remember that the steel has a slight addition of Vanadium. In other words, the vanadium carbide that it amalgamates into further contributes to its edge retention.

Hardness vs. Toughness

Now you know that there’s nothing to worry about HRC-wise. But the toughness of the knife might still be unclear to you. Well, toughness is inversely proportional to hardness. In other words, the more hardened steel gets, the lesser is its toughness.

But the thing with 9cr18mov steel is that it has the optimal balance between these two factors. As a result, you will almost always get the smooth cutting edge experience when using these knives. The slight chances of failure will actually depend on whether you maintain and care for your knives or not.

Sharpening and Maintenance

Sharpening on the 9cr18mov is straightforward and effortless. You do not need a lot of complicated tools or expensive sharpening agents to pull this off. Moreover, you won’t even need a lot of knife keeping experience (as long as you know what you’re doing).

By the way, studies say that knives are the reason for more disabling injuries than any other hand tools.So we strictly advise keepers to maintain safety precautions while sharpening.

Price Range

In all honesty, there is no strict range or margin for the price. The reason for this is that 9cr18mov steel is used in a wide variety of knives. So the blades’ fundamental price determiner is actually the build-finishing of the manufacturer. Any review page that tells you otherwise didn’t actually do their homework!

However, there are more inexpensive 9cr18mov knives than there are expensive ones. So if you don’t want to go too heavy on your pockets, you can always opt for the affordable ones without compromising quality.

Build Quality and Durability

9cr18mov steels do not make the most durable knives out there in the market. But that doesn’t mean that they produce unsatisfactory results. Due to their zero corrosive nature, they last longer than most other steels.

Any experienced knife keeper who knows how to properly handle and maintain a knife will quickly get more than 3-4 years on this steel (after heavy use). The knife’s chemical composition further contributes to a sturdy build despite having an outstanding balance between toughness.

Get Yourself a 9cr18mov Steel Knife Today!