Bowie knives have been around for almost 200 years. In that time, metal technology has advanced a great deal. Today’s knives can be purchased in a variety of steels. In the past, it was the best one could do to get the best performing steel they could find. Today, one can find different steels that offer excellent performance in different situations.
If a knife just needs to hold up to abuse, edge-holding isn’t usually an issue. Knives that need to be durable are usually best made of a variety of stainless steel. Another benefit is that this metal is resistant to rust. For hard-working bowie knives, a softer, less expensive variety of stainless steel such as 420 is usually fine. It won’t get, or stay, that sharp but it is tough.
High-carbon stainless is an excellent option for those who need the durability of stainless steel with better edge-holding properties. As the carbon content goes up in steel, such as in 440C versus 440A, the metal becomes more brittle. It is also able to be sharpened to a finer edge and will retain that edge very well, however. This makes high carbon stainless steel very popular for multi-purpose blades.
For a hard-working, multi-purpose bowie knife, plain stainless steel is often best. The 420 and 440 varieties can both offer good service. Stainless steel is incredibly tough and, partially as a result of that, is very hard to sharpen. There are new types of stainless steel being developed all the time and some of these metals have very favorable properties where edge-holding and durability are concerned.
At the high end of the scale are the 6A and 12C27 grade steels. The 6A grade is frequently used in knives that are manufactured to the standards of a fighting knife. This steel takes a very sharp edge and can hold that edge for a long time. Blades made of this steel can easily pass most sharpness tests. They are also very expensive and not suited to general purpose and sporting use due to their high price. Other high-end grades include ATS-34 and 440B, the latter of which isn’t produced in great quantities anymore. If one is looking for the best quality, the high-carbon steels are those for which one is looking.
Brian is a business consultant for an online bowie knife store featuring combat knives.
