Knives & Tools

Our most popular category! We?ve got thousands of blades to choose from, and all the best brands: Ka-bar, ESSE, Benchmade, Boker, SOG, Fallkniven, Gerber, and the list goes on! 

Jo Hannah's favorite: The Benchmade 940 Osbourne is my personal favorite (this week) because of it's sleek style, super smooth deployment, and razor sharp edge, typical of Benchmade. With stunning purple titanium spacers and a tough aluminum handle, this knife is light weight enough to put away without much sag on the pocket, but strong enough to take on any threat. Ideal for people with smaller hands who prefer a "gentleman's" feel but who also want a tactical blade.

If you are having trouble finding the exact model you are looking for, use the search bar tool in the upper right corner, and just type in the MANUFACTURER?S MODEL NUMBER only, and that should pull up the right knife. Still can?t find what you want? Give me a call. I work with a dozen or so knife manufacturers and distributors and can probably find you what you want. Watch the video below for a nice comparison of five "budget" knives based on cutting performance.

Glossary:

Knife-Speak Explained

10XX (Steel) - 1095 is the most common 10XX steel used for knife blades. 1045 steel has less carbon (.45%), where 1095 has more (.95%), inversely 1095 has less Manganese and 1045 has more. So in essence, 1095 steel would have more wear resistance, but would also be less tough. 1045 holds an okay edge, 1095 steel holds an edge great, and is easy to sharpen. 

12C27 Sandvik (Steel)- A very pure alloy. Contains: 0.6% Carbon, 13.5% Chromium; 0.4% Maganese, .03% Phosphorus, 0.01% Sulfur, and 0.4% Silcon. 

13C26 Sandvik (Steel)- this steel is similar in composition to the 12c27 steel but with a slight increase in Carbon and decrease in Chromium. This change in composition gives this steel a better edge retention. 

14C28 Sandvik (Steel)- has an increase in Chromium for better stainless attributes not as much Carbon as 13c26 however what is unique is the added Nitrogen (.11%) which increases corrosion resistance and hardness to provide exceptional edge retention. 

154-CM (Steel) - high quality steel. It has a carbon content of 1.05%. Holds an edge well and is a hard steel. It has pretty good toughness for how hard the steel is as well. It is tougher than 440C. This steel often gets compared to ATS-34 because the two are so similar. An American made premium grade stainless steel originally developed for tough industrial applications. Known for its best all-around qualities, it offers great corrosion resistance with good toughness and edge quality.

4116 Krupp (Steel) - is used in a number of entry level Cold Steel fixed blades. Similar in composition to 420HC. However rumor has it that it has increased wear resistance. Contains: 0.45%-0.55% Carbon; 14%-15% Chromium; 0.5%-0.8% Molybdenum; 0.1%-0.2% Vanadium. 

420 (Steel) - has about .38% carbon. The low carbon content means that this steel is very soft, and doesn't hold an edge well. It is low quality, low cost material. Many cheap knives tend to be made of this material because of its cost. Blades made from this material need to be sharpened frequently, and often chip. On the bright side, all 420 stainless steel is extremely rust resistant. This means that one of the best uses for this material is to make diving knives because of their constant contact with saltwater. Sometimes, you will also see 420J. 420J is the lowest quality 420 steel, but is also the most rust resistant. 420J?s low carbon, high chromium content steel which offers excellent bend toughness and wear ability. It offers excellent corrosion resistant characteristics as well. Also used in handles.

420HC (Steel) - is used extensively in Buck knives. It has decent performance for comparative cost and has a higher Carbon content than other 420 steels. Contains: 0.46% Carbon; 0.3% Vanadium; 13% Chromium; 0.4% Manganese; 0.4% Silicon. 

425M (Steel) - a material similar to the 400 series that has .5% carbon and is used by Buck knives. 

440 (Steel) - there are three different types of 440 steel, ranked A-C, C being the highest quality. The hardest part of telling them apart is that often steel makers mark 440 on the tang of the blade and not the letter grade. This is especially true when it is one of the lower grades. This has led certain knife manufacturers to rename 440C as other things in order to differentiate the quality of the product. 440C: A high-chromium stainless steel with a terrific balance of good hardness and corrosion resistance. 440C takes a nice edge and is fairly easy to re-sharpen. An excellent value priced steel for its performance.

5160 (Steel) - plain carbon steel (1060) that has been mixed with a little bit of chromium. There is not enough chromium to make it a stainless steel, but the chromium has been added to strengthen the material. This type of steel is known for its outstanding toughness. 

52100 (Steel) - high carbon tool steel. It typically has .98-1.10% carbon. This steel is harder than many others, and consequently it holds an edge well. This is one of the best steels to use if you are worried about it holding an edge. This material is used often for hunting knives. 

6061 T-6 ALUMINUM: A nonferrous metal originally developed as a premium aircraft grade aluminum, it offers a solid handle form and function at a nominal weight. Most typically color anodized to spec.

6AL 4V-TITANIUM: Considered an exotic metal alloy (Titanium + 6% Aluminum + 4% Vanadium) with an excellent strength to weight ratio, which offers exceptional performance in a knife. Titanium is corrosion resistant to natural elements as well as many industrial chemicals.

8Cr14MoV (Steel) - very similar to AUS-8. It is manufactured in China and has about .75% carbon content. Performance characteristics to AUS-8. An excellent value priced steel for its performance.

9Cr13CoMoV (Steel) - 440 steel with extra cobalt mixed in to strengthen the blade. Has about .85% carbon.  A Chinese made high-carbon stainless steel with increased levels of cobalt added for greater edge retention. Offers a higher level of corrosion resistance at a great value.

A2 (Steel) - very tough tool steel. However, it has less wear resistance than other tool steels. This steel is often used for custom made combat knives because of its toughness. It has a carbon content range of 0.95-1.05%. 

Abalone - a type of sea shell used to decorate knife scales, noted for its iridescent color. 

ABS - a common thermoplastic used in sheaths for knives. It is a good material for use in sheaths because of its high impact strength. 

Appleseed (Grind) - see Hamaguri grind. 

Almite - this is a type of electrolytic coating put on aluminum. This process protects the material. 

Aluminum (6061 T6) - 6061 T6 alumninum was developed as an aircraft grade version of aluminum. It is often used in knives as a handle material and works really well when anodized. 

ANODIZATION: An electrochemical process used for adding color to titanium surfaces. A combination of chemical bath and electrical voltage level generates the desired color. A similar process is used for aluminum with the addition of a chemical coloring bath. Usually this is done on knives with aluminum or titanium. The process protects the material. 

ATS-34 (Steel) - very similar to 154 CM. It has 1.05% carbon. It is also one of those classified in the super category. There are lots of high-end custom knives that use this steel. 

ATS-55 (Steel) - does not have the vanadium that is present in both ATS-34 and 154-CM. This means that it does hold an edge as well, and has also been reported to be less rust resistant than ATS-34. It has a carbon content of 1.00%. 

AUS-6 (Steel) - has .65% carbon. This is a low quality steel, comparable to 420. 

AUS-8 (Steel) - has .75% carbon. Cold Steel has made popular use of this steel. This is tough steel, and holds an edge well. A Japanese made medium-carbon, high chromium stainless steel, which offers a good balance of toughness, edge sharpness and corrosion resistance.

AUS-8A (Steel) - is a slight upgrade from typical AUS-8 steel. It is found in a number of Cold Steel knives. Contains: 0.7%-0.75% Carbon; 13%-14% Chromium; 0.5% Manganese; 0.1%-0.3% Molybdenum; 0.49% Nitrogen; 0.04% Phosphorus; 1% Silcon; 0.03% Sulfur. 

AUS-10 (Steel) - has 1.1% carbon. This steel is comparable to 440C. It has more vanadium and less chromium than 440C so it is slightly tougher, but also a little less rust resistant. 

Balisong (Butterfly) Knife - a type of knife with two handles that rotate around a blade pivot. This type of knife is often used in Filipino martial arts. 

BALLISTICS NYLON: A heavy-duty woven nylon fabric originally developed for use in bulletproof vests and body armor. Offers great lightweight sheath durability.

BEAD BLAST FINISH: can be defined as any non-reflective finish applied to the metal surface by bead blasting or sand blasting the blade with any of a variety of media. The intent is to roughen the surface for anti-glare. The tradeoff is it tends to be more susceptible to corrosion due to the increased surface area exposed. This finish is also commonly referred to as a "military finish".

Benchmade BLADE CODES:

(NO CODE): Plain edge/no blade coating

S: ComboEdge? (partially serrated)/no blade coating

BK: Plain edge black corrosion resistant coated blade

SBK: ComboEdge (partially serrated)/ black corrosion resistant coated blade coated blade

B: Black anti-reflective, corrosion resistant coated blade

SB: ComboEdge (partially serrated)/ black anti-reflective coated blade

OD: Olive Drab color handle

SN: Coyote color handle or sheath

-BLU: Blue color handle

-YEL: Yellow color handle

-ORG: Orange color handle

-BLK: Black color handle

-PNK: Pink color handle

BP: BP1 Charcoal color, scratch resistant coating

W: Soft sheath for safety cutter

ADC: Army digital camouflage color sheath

D2: D2 blade steel

DM: Damascus blade

CP: Clam pack

Belly (Blade) - the steeply curved portion of the blade. 

BK1 COATING (Benchmade): BK1 coating is a matte black coating that provides excellent corrosion protection, which exceeds the ASTM-117 spec for saltwater while possessing higher scratch resistance.

BLADE FINISH: Blade finishes refers to the surface treatment of the blade, which can be anything from the way in which the steel is processed, to a multitude of blade coatings which are applied to the blade itself.

Bohler M390: A high performance blade steel with superior cutting ability and wear resistance due to its high concentration of vanadium and chromium carbides. Its unique powder metallurgical process also promotes a uniform carbide distribution and clean steel properties, making M390 a popular steel used in surgical cutting instruments and in applications requiring a high finish. As a blade material it offers excellent corrosion resistance due to its high concentration of Chromium.

Bohler N680: A chromium-molybdenum conventionally produced stainless steel with the addition of vanadium and nitrogen. Excellent corrosion resistance properties, especially in salt water. Good hardenability and high obtainable hardness. High wear resistance and ability to preserve keenness.

Bolster - metal between the blade and handle, strengthens the knife at critical stress points

BP1 COATING (Benchmade): Black Pearl (BP) is a PVD (physical vapor deposition) coating made up of Titanium Carbo-Nitride (TiCN for short). It is a darker, near black, scratch resistant coating with nice decorative qualities.

BT2 COATING (Benchmade): A proprietary blade coating that is Xylan ® based to provide excellent corrosion resistance which exceeds the ASTM-117 spec for saltwater and increases overall surface lubricity.

Butt - the rear of the handle of a knife. 

Carbide - a mixture of carbon and a less electronegative element (iron, tungsten, boron, calcium...) that is a very hard material. It is often used in knife sharpeners and on knives that feature glass breakers. 

CARBON FIBER Handle: A contemporary, premium composite of thin strands of carbon tightly woven into various weave patterns, then set in resin, which is most commonly clear but can be color tinted. It offers great looks and is exceptionally strong for its minimal weight.

Ceramic (Blade) - does not rust, so they are popular for use in scuba knives. This material is really, really hard so it almost never needs to be sharpened. It can be almost impossible to sharpen them, but as a trade off ceramic blades are often very brittle. 

Chamfer - a beveled edge that connects two surfaces. This is often done a knife handle where two different materials meet. 

Chisel (Grind) - see Single Bevel grind. 

Choil - the area between the cutting edge and the tang of the knife. This is where your index finger would sit when you hold the knife open. 

CPM 10V (Steel) - one of the most wear resistant tool steels. It also has decent toughness for a tool steel. This is a great choice if you are looking for something with lots of wear resistance, but is not a really tough material. 

CPM 3V (Steel) - designed to be tough while also being a high wear resistance steel. For the most part it succeeds. 

CPM M4 (Steel) - has excellent wear resistance and toughness. Has about 1.42% carbon. Special purpose, high-speed steel with a combination of high Carbon, Moly, Vanadium and Tungsten for excellent wear resistance and toughness; A powder-metal, non stainless steel.

Cocobolo - a type of tropical hardwood that is often used in handle scales. It is often orange, or reddish-brown in color.  

Cordura® - a fabric that is often used on backpacks and sheaths. It is even used on apparel. It is very durable and doesn't tear easily. 

CTS-BD1 (steel) - is a Carpenter Steel. This steel is unique because it is melted in a vacuum. Spyderco is currently experimenting with this steel. Contains: 0.9% Carbon; 15.75% Chromium; 0.6% Manganese; 0.3% Molybdenum; 0.37% Silicon; 0.1% Vanadium. 

CTS-BD30P (steel) - is a Carpenter Steel. This is very similar to that of the S30V. Contains: 1.5% Carbon; 0.9% Cobalt; 14% Chromium; 0.9% Manganese; 0.5% Molybdenum; 0.25% Nitrogen; 0.4% Silicon; 0.2% Tungsten; 4% Vanadium. 

D2 (Steel) - much tougher than most stainless steels, but not as tough as most of the other tool steels. This steel does have excellent wear resistance. It has great edge retention but can be very difficult to sharpen. This is also a tough material to mirror polish, so it you will almost never see it that way. Its carbon content is 1.50-1.60%. An air-hardened tool steel, which offers good corrosion resistance and excellent mileage in wear resistance. A good choice for hard use applications.

Damascus (Steel) - there are some reports that when the first Damascus steel was encountered it would cut through the sword blades that the Europeans were using. This is reportedly because the material was the perfect mixture of tough steel and hard steel. In the Middle East this type of steel had been made for thousands of years, but the knowledge of how to work this metal was lost at some point. Consequently, the type of Damascus made today is not produced the same way that it was made anciently. Today, pattern welded steel is made to reproduce the look of ancient Damascus steel. This type of steel is made by taking two (or more) layers of different types of steel and folding them together. As an example of how this might work, think of Play-doh that you played with when you were a kid. If you were to take two different pieces of Play-doh and fold them together over and over again, you have an idea of how this type of steel is made. After the two different steels are folded together, the steel is acid etched. The color contrast and patterns on the blade comes from the fact that the two types of steel etch differently. Damascus steel is considered a precious metal, because it is difficult to make, and can result in very beautiful knife blades. This means that knife blades made with Damascus tend to be expensive and only used for custom blades and special applications due to its inherent high cost and artistic nature.

DELRIN®: A lightweight and durable engineered polymer with low wear properties. Used throughout the auto industry. Molded to form.

Detent - a hole machined into the tang of a blade. A ball bearing drops into the hole when the knife is closed, holding the knife in the closed position. 

DLC (Diamond Like Carbon Coating) - is a combination of diamond and graphite used for coating blades. 

DROP-POINT: A slow convex-curved drop in the point characterizes a drop-point blade. The drop-point format lowers the point for control but adds strength to the tip. Usually coupled with plenty of belly for slicing, this format is often used for hunting knives. It is also a fantastic all-around blade format. This blade shape can be found on a wide array of knives.

EDC - every day carry, or a knife that will be used every day. 

False Edge - see Spine Swedge. 

Filework - refers to the decoration cuts on the spine of a knife done by hand.  

Fixed Blade Knife - a knife that is solid between the handle and the blade. 

Flat Saber (Grind) - a blade edge that is ground completely flat without a radius that tapers from the cutting edge to a grind line down the center of the blade.

Folding Knife - refers to any knife that is not solid between the handle and the blade. 

FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon) - a handle material similar to GFN, a nylon-based plastic that is reinforced with Glass Fiber. 

Full Flat (Grind) - a flat edge, ground as a completely flat surface from the blade's edge to its spine.

G10: An extremely durable makeup of layers of fiberglass soaked in resin, then highly compressed and baked. Impervious to moisture or liquid and physically stable under climate change. Most commonly black, but is available in various colors, too.

GFN (Glass Filled Nylon) - a handle material similar to FRN, a nylon-based plastic that is reinforced with Glass Fiber. 

Gut Hook - a hook that is located on the spine of a knife. The hook makes it easier to field dress an animal. 

Hamaguri (Grind) - A blade edge with a convex grind.

H1 (steel) - is extremely rust resistant. For use in salt water type situations. Contains: 0.15% Carbon; 14%-16% Chromium; 0.1% Copper; 2% Manganese; 0.5%-1.5% Molybdenum; 0.1% Nitrogen; 6%-8% Nickel; 0.04% Phosphorus; 3%-3.5% Silicon; 0.03% Sulfur. 

HEAT TREATMENT: Over the years Benchmade has developed a "special recipe" for heat-treating their blade steels. This process maximizes the steels' molecular structure for a custom toughness and Benchmade superior performance.

Hollow (Grind) - A blade edge ground with a radius, leaving a concave shape above the cutting surface.

Integral Pocket Clip - a pocket clip that is molded as part of the handle, rather than being attached with screws. 

Jigged Bone - this is bone that has been machined (jigged) in a pattern.  

Jimping - refers to machined cuts or cross-hatched patterns on the back of the spine of the knife designed to increase traction of fingers on the knife.  

KRATON: A thermoplastic elastomer offering excellent flexibility and memory elasticity even under harsh conditions. It is over-molded onto the handle for added grip surface and tactile qualities.

KYDEX: A mixture of acrylic and PVC, which offers outstanding impact and chemical resistance as well as fire retardancy. Widely used in the auto and aerospace industry. Molded or thermo-formed.

L6 (Steel) - tough and holds an edge well. However, like other non-stainless steel it rusts easily. Some consider this to be one of the best steels available for cutlery. It is also used frequently in saw blades, but any knife made from this material needs consistent maintenance. 

Lanyard Hole - this one is pretty self-explanatory. It is a hole in the handle of the knife for a lanyard. 

LEATHER Sheath: A natural material dating back to man?s earliest beginnings in the knife world. It can be easily dyed and tooled for desired visual effect. Offers traditionally accepted levels of performance and design capability.

M2 (Steel) - extremely heat resistant. It has about .85% carbon. It holds an edge really, really well, but it can be brittle on large knives. 

M390 (Steel) - a high performance blade steel with superior cutting ability and wear resistance due to its high concentration of vanadium and chromium carbides. This is a popular steel used in surgical cutting instruments and in applications requiring a high finish. It features 1.9% carbon. 

Mammoth Bone (also molar, and ivory)- Used rarely in custom knives. Found during mining operations in the far north, in areas with lots of glacial activity. The distinctive look is made from erosion.  

Micarta - a handle material made by taking layers of linen cloths soaked in resin and pressuring them together. Most commonly used on more stylish knives due to its rich color finish qualities.

Mirror Polish - a blade polished to the point that you can see yourself in the blade. 

MOLLE - Modular Lighweight Load carrying Equipment, typically knives with sheath attachments compatible with this system. 

Moran (Grind) - see Hamaguri grind. 

Mother of Pearl - used often in custom knives, has an iridescent, cream color.  

N690 & N690BO (Steel): An Austrian made stainless steel, which is comparable to 440C in performance and value. Keen edge qualities with great corrosion resistance. This steel has about 1.07% carbon. 

NORYL GTX: A modern engineered plastic offering high-strength, minimal flex and optimally lightweight properties. Molded to form.

O1 (Steel) - has good edge retention, because it is hard material. Its major problem is that it rusts rather quickly if it isn't maintained. It has a carbon content range of .85-1.00%. 

O6 (Steel) - a much tougher metal than O1. This is one of the absolute best edge retention steels. 

Orange Peel - refers to the grain polish of some steels, which gives a slightly rougher finish similar to an orange peel.  

Plain (Edge) - sometimes called a straight edge. This is an edge on the blade that has no teeth or serrations.  

Quillion - this is a handguard that protrudes from both sides of the handle where the blade meets the handle. 

S30V (Steel) - very tough, and yet still has great wear resistance. For how tough the steel is, it actually has very good hardness also, which is why many consider it to be one of the best choices for knife making. It has a carbon content of 1.45%. 

S30V (Steel) - very tough, and yet still has great wear resistance. For how tough the steel is, it actually has very good hardness also, which is why many consider it to be one of the best choices for knife making. It has a carbon content of 1.45%.  An American made and developed premium grade stainless steel created especially for knives. It is a powder made steel with a uniform carbide distribution and clean steel properties. As a blade material it offers excellent corrosion resistance and superb edge qualities.

S35VN (Steel) - considered an upgrade from S30V due to its toughness and chip resistance. However S30V will still hold a better edge. The addition of Niobium and Nitrogen increases corrosion resistance and hardness. Contains: 1.34% Carbon; 14% Chromium; 0%-0.5% Cobalt; 0.5% Manganese; 2% Molybdenum; 0.1%-0.4% Niobium; 0%-13% Nitrogen; 0%-0.3% Phosphorus; 0%-0.3% Sulfur; 0.5% Silicon; 0.4% Tungsten; 3% Vanadium. 

S90V (Steel) - has superior edge retention. However, it can be almost impossible to sharpen. Right now custom makers are the only ones using this type of steel. Its carbon content is around 2.30%. 

SATIN FINISH: creates a low-luster sheen to the blade steel surface. Several common forms of satin finish include Stonewash, Scotchbrite, Tumbled (or Vibed), Burnished, Hand rubbed, Polished:

Stonewash: the blade surface is refined using abrasive tumbling media or "stones" that leave a pronounced random "scratch pattern" on the blade. This finish tends to mask any scratches that may occur with use. Examples- Model 805, 813

Scotchbrite: this finish softly blends the grinding lines on the blade leaving a pleasant "grained" or "brushed" look. Typically the graining pattern goes from spine to edge. Examples- Model 190, 4530

Tumbled or Vibed: similar to a stonewash finish; this finish leaves the blades bright and smooth with a faint random scratch pattern. Examples- Griptilians, Bali-Songs

Burnished: usually applied using non-abrasive media, whether by hand or in vibratory equipment. This finish refines the blade surface without much of a discernable graining or scratch pattern. Examples- Model 770, 941

Hand rubbed: a finish typically done only by custom knife makers, it is similar to a scotchbrite finish with the main exception being that the graining goes from tang to tip.

POLISHED FINISH: can be defined as any highly-reflective or glossy finish that refines and smoothes the metal surface. This finish aids in corrosion resistance as microscopic peaks and valleys of the blade surface are smoothed out leaving less surface area exposed.

Scale - the handle material that is mounted to the tang of a knife. 

Serrated (Blade) ? A blade with serrations along the lower cutting edge of the blade.  

SHEEPSFOOT: This blade shape has no point on the tip, very little to no belly and the spine of the blade curves down to meet the edge. It is used in applications where slicing is the main requirement, and a point is either not needed or would actively get in the way. Emergency rescue blades are usually of this design. The lack of a point prevents the rescuer from inadvertently injuring a victim who is being cut free from something restrictive.

Single Bevel (Grind) - Also called a chisel grind. The edge is either flat or hollow ground, but only on one side.

Sleipner (Steel) - is a non-stainless tool steel. Contains: 0.9% Carbon; 7.8% Chromium; 0.5% Manganese; 2.5% Molybdenum; 0.9% Silicon; 0.9% Vanadium. 

Slip Joint - a folding knife that has a non-locking blade. 

Spine Swedge - Also called a false edge. An edge on the back of the blade that is not sharpened.

STABILIZED WOOD Handle: Select hardwood veneers are vacuum impregnated with special dyes and resins. Sheets are layered and combined under tremendous heat and pressure to adhere the veneers for a durable real wood medium.

Stag - a material used to decorate knife scales, typically made from male deer horn.  

Stainless Steel - this is steel that has at least 13 percent Chromium so that it is resistant to rust. 

Tang - the metal piece of the knife on which handle is mounted, it extends into the handle. 

Tanto (Blade) ? A blade tip that has a smaller, flat section at the top and a straight edge to the lower blade.  Most tantos seen on the American cutlery market are Americanized formats. Like the Japanese tanto, the Americanized tanto has a high point in-line with the pivot. A flat grind is applied to the point, leaving it very thick and extraordinarily strong. This thick area helps absorb the impact from piercing, as the tanto was originally designed for armor piercing. The front edge meets the bottom edge at an obtuse angle rather than curving to meet it as seen in the Japanese tanto. The only negative aspect of the tanto blade shape is the cutting surface area is sacrificed to gain tip strength.

Titanium - is popular because it is lightweight and very tough. It does not hold an edge very well so it doesn't usually make a really good blade, but it has been used in diving knives and some custom knives.  

VALOX: A reinforced resin with excellent stiffness, strength and dimensional stability. Molded to form.

VG 1 (Steel) - is a San Mai premium stainless steel and is considered an upgrade of the more common VG10. Contains: 0.95%-1.05% Carbon; 13%-15% Chromium; 0.2%-0.4% Molybdenum; 0.25% Nitrogen. 

VG 10 (Steel) - another type of steel that gets referred to as super steel. It is a very high end stainless steel. It has vanadium which gives it extra toughness. This steel holds an edge really well. It is also very rust resistant. It has a carbon content of 0.95-1.05%. 

W2 (Steel) - plain carbon steel with extra carbon. It is very hard and holds an edge well. 

X15 (Steel) - has .40% carbon. This French steel was developed for the aircraft industry for jet ball bearings, as well as the medical industry for scalpels. It has the ability to resist rust in the worst of conditions while maintaining ample edge retention. The capability behind this steel is in the way it is manufactured, resulting in the finest steel for use in harsh environments such as salt water. The edge on an X15 T.N blade is easier to maintain. It is not very tough, but is especially good material for diving knives. 

Zero (Grind) - Similar to a full flat grind without the secondary grind for the edge.

Zero Saber (Grind) - Similar to a flat saber grind without the secondary grind for the edge.

ZYTEL: A lightweight glass filled nylon engineered for strength and durability. Widely used throughout the auto industry in engine related components. Molded to form.