Most press for everyday carry pocket knives is dedicated to new models that are made with super-steels, many of which are touted as stainless because of their high chromium, nickel, or even nitrogen contents.
There is some good reason for this. High-quality stainless steels offer a lot of convenience and are generally tolerant of abuse. You can put away a pocket knife with a stainless blade steel a little dirty and most of the time when you open it back up it won’t be seized with rust.
But there is a time and place for plain-jane, non-stainless alloys like those in the 10XX class, like 1055 and 1095. Here’s what they offer, and why the best folding knife might not be stainless after all.
What High-Carbon, Low-Chromium Steels Offer
For one thing, there are many affordable non-stainless, high-carbon steels. While they do rust, they often offer much greater affordability than their super-steel cousins that are stainless.
The other thing is that, if it’s a comparison between cheap stainless steels like 420HC and cheap non-stainless alternatives like 1095, the latter wins on every metric.
Non-stainless alloys like those in the 10XX class are much tougher than most low-carbon, high-chromium alloys. Often chromium, despite the fact that it makes a steel corrosion resistant, makes it far too soft.
Blades with a higher carbon content can take a better heat treatment, which makes them harder, tougher, and more wear-resistant. They will tolerate physical abuse better and they will hold an edge longer.
Even that being the case, many of these steels remain soft enough to be workable in the field. You can easily resharpen a 1095 blade, whereas it’s a lot of work to get an edge back on a super-hard super steel.
To a point, high-carbon alloys are also a lot more physically durable than many softer stainless alloys. You can beat up a 1045, 1055, or 1095 knife in the bush and chances are it won’t flinch. Other tool steels like D2 are even tougher.
Another aspect of investing in a new pocket knife with a non-stainless blade is that it will teach you proper knife care. You can’t afford to put away one of these knives dirty; they must be meticulously kept clean and they must be oiled, or they will rust.
Finally, for what it’s worth there’s the value of tradition. Back in the day, “Grandpa’s” pocket knife was almost certainly not made with a stainless alloy. If you care about that, there’s another reason for you.
Find the Best Folding Knife for You at White Mountain Knives
As you can see, there is a time and a place for EDC knives that boast high-end stainless super-steels. But there is also a strong case to be made in favor of pocket knives made with high-carbon alloys. They offer everything covered in this article and more.
For more information or to look through a catalog of pocket knives that represents the best brands in the industry, visit White Mountain Knives. They carry a wide range of pocket knives from the top brands and regardless of what you’re looking for, there’s going to be something for you in their collection.
