What Does 1095 High Carbon Steel Mean On A Blade?
By Adelia Ladson
Before I get into what it means when you see “1095 High Carbon Steel” stamped on a blade, let me tell you why It’s important.
Importance Of Steel Type
When looking to buy a knife, it’s essential to consider the purpose you need it for and the tasks that you need it to perform. The most important factor to use to make your choice, after you know what you need from a knife, is the type of steel the blade is made of. There are a variety of different “recipes” to the way the ingredients of steel are mixed together to create the desired steel grade and type. And it’s the combination of the ingredients in a knife’s blade that will make it the most effective for what you need.
Common Steel Ingredients
Although, there are several ingredients used in making steel, carbon is the primary ingredient. All steel has some percentage of carbon since it’s a hardening element and will reduce the overall wear of a blade. Adding manganese and vanadium to the mix assists in making the blade hard and tungsten increases wear-resistance, too. Chromium is used to increase the strength of the blade as is silicon, cobalt and phosphorous. Chromium is also an anti-corrosion ingredient, which is why stainless steel knives are the best at staying rust free with the least amount of maintenance. Copper is also used to combat corrosion, while nickel is add for toughness and sulfur to increase machinability.
High Carbon Steel
Just like its name implies, high carbon steel has a much higher carbon content than stainless steel. Like I said above, the more carbon added to the steel recipe, the harder the blade and the less wear over time a blade will sustain. Blades made of high carbon steel can also be sharpened to a nice edge and will keep a sharp edge longer. Professional grade kitchen knives are made out of this type of steel, as well as, a variety of fixed blade and pocket knives. Functional swords are also made out of high carbon steel.
1095 High Carbon Steel Blades
So a blade that’s stamped “1095 high carbon steel” has a 0.95% carbon content and a 0.5% manganese content, which does make it more wear-resistant, but it lacks the anti-corrosion ingredients like chromium and copper. It also has 0.03% phosphorous and 0.05% sulfur that makes the blade easy to sharpen and, therefore, the steel preferred for knife blades. Since it’s easy to sharpen, this is a good blade choice for someone who wants to learn how to properly sharpen a knife. Another quality that makes 1095 high carbon steel great for knife blades is that it’s hardness is between 55 and 58 HRC, meaning that it’s a rigid grade of carbon steel perfect for outdoor applications. Extra maintenance does need to be taken into consideration with a 1095 high carbon steel blade. They need to be taken care of by making sure that they are wiped clean after use and kept in a relatively dry environment. Using a light oil like sewing machine or gun oil on the blade will help protect it from moisture.
My Recommendations
Here are a few of my favorite fixed blade knives with 1095 carbon steel blades. I’ve included a variety of outdoor use and survival use models.
Bushmaster Tracker Knife
A hefty knife with a broad 1095 high carbon steel blade, the Bushmaster Tracker Knife will be your right arm when you’re out tracking your quarry in the wild. The upwardly curved blade has an aggressive sawback spine and thumb-jimping. The full-tang blade is supported by comfortably curved, premium wooden handle scales secured with brass pins. The thumb-jimping continues onto the handle scales and there is a lanyard hole. The Tracker Knife can be carried in its leather belt sheath.
Timber Rattler Gunslinger Bowie
Giving it an incredible striking appearance, a unique blend of heat treatments and quenches were used to achieve the “Fire Kissed” look to the Timber Rattler Gunslinger Bowie’s 1095 high carbon steel blade. The rich, reddish-brown handle scales, which are both secured and accented with polished brass pins, make a handsome contrast to the blue flame cast of the blade. Don’t let the bowie knife’s visual attributes fool you because it’s a powerful fixed blade that will stand-up to harsh use in harsh environments. The full-tang, clip point blade is keenly sharp, hacking through anything life throws at you, and it extends from a handguard that’s of the same heat-treated steel that is also carried through to the hawkbill pommel. The massive bowie also comes with a leather belt sheath so that it can be carried conveniently at your side. Whether you’re chopping trees or slicing through thick ropes, you’ll get the job done fast with the Gunslinger!
KA-BAR Marine Knife
Renowned for their survival knives, KA-BAR Knives has been making knives since 1898 and their most well-known is the iconic stacked-handle combat knife favored by the United States Marine Corps. The KA-BAR Marine Knife is a tactical black version with a powdered-coated 1095 high carbon steel blade. The tough-as-nails, clip point blade is partially serrated, and it’s supported by a Kraton G polymer handle that is crafted in the stacked design and sits between a carbon steel guard and pommel. The survival knife can be carried at your side or attached to your gear in its reinforced ABS, composite belt sheath. The battle-tested design of the KA-BAR Marine Knife has remained unchanged for decades and is still proudly made in the USA.
Bushmaster Bantam Bushcrafter Knife
The Bushmaster Bantam Bushcrafter Knife is a big knife in a small package with its highly capable, just under 3” 1095 high carbon steel blade. The razor-sharp blade is supported by richly veined zebra wood handle scales, secured to the full tang with brass pins. Known for its hardness and durability, zebra wood is incredibly strong, giving you a lifetime of use. The knife also comes with a leather belt sheath. Easy to carry and store, the Bushmaster Bantam Bushcrafter Knife is an excellent bushcrafting tool for all of your outdoors and survival gear.
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