A2 knife steel
A2 is a tool & high-speed knife steel, typically hardened to HRC 60-62.
| Type | Tool & high-speed |
|---|---|
| Hardness | HRC 60-62 |
| Edge retention | highhigher than 19 of 48, tied with 17 |
| Corrosion resistance | lowamong the lowest of 49 |
| Toughness | very-highhigher than 40 of 48, tied with 8 |
| Ease of sharpening | moderate to sharpeneasier to sharpen than 20 of 48, tied with 14 |
| Price tier | Mid |
| Best for | Hard-use / survivalOutdoor / bushcraft |
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Similar tool & high-speed steels
| Steel | Type | HRC | Edge | Corrosion | Toughness | Tier | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O1 | Tool & high-speed | 57-62 | medium | low | high | Budget | Knives → |
| D2 | Tool & high-speed | 58-62 | high | medium | medium | Mid | Knives → |
| CPM CruWear PM | Tool & high-speed | 60-64 | high | medium | very high | Premium | Knives → |
| CPM-3V PM | Tool & high-speed | 58-62 | high | medium | very high | Premium | Knives → |
| CPM-4V PM | Tool & high-speed | 60-64 | high | low | very high | Premium | Knives → |
| Vanadis 4 Extra PM | Tool & high-speed | 60-63 | high | low | very high | Premium | Knives → |
All tool & high-speed steels · every steel · best for a purpose