Toughness

Toughness is resistance to chipping, cracking, fracture, impact damage, and damage from lateral stress.

For survival knives, toughness becomes more important as blade size and task severity increase. It is especially relevant for fixed blades used for harder wood processing or other demanding cutting tasks.

Toughness does not make abuse safe. Prying, twisting, striking metal, or using a knife in place of an axe, hatchet, pry bar, or screwdriver can damage even a tough steel.

Edge Retention

Edge retention is the ability to continue cutting before the edge needs sharpening.

It is influenced by wear resistance, hardness, carbide type and volume, edge angle, thickness behind the edge, material being cut, and cutting technique.

Greater wear resistance can extend cutting time, but it usually makes sharpening and damage repair slower.

Ease of Sharpening

Ease of sharpening includes how quickly the steel responds to abrasives, how easily a dull edge can be restored, how difficult chips are to remove, whether compact field equipment is effective, and whether diamond or CBN abrasives are needed.

Sharpening difficulty also depends on the user’s technique, the sharpening system, abrasive quality, edge angle, and the amount of damage.

Corrosion Resistance

Corrosion resistance describes how well the steel resists staining, pitting, and rust caused by humidity, rain, sweat, food acids, wet sheaths, coastal air, saltwater, and delayed maintenance.

Stainless steel is not stain-proof. Surface finish, heat treatment, contamination, hidden hardware, and storage conditions can all affect corrosion behavior.

Toughness — Best

Nitro-V receives the Best toughness rating within this group.

Its fine carbide structure and comparatively low carbide volume help it resist chipping and fracture better than the more wear-resistant steels in this comparison. That makes it well suited to durable fixed blades, carving knives, camp knives, and moderate wood processing.

The finished knife still depends on heat treatment, hardness, blade thickness, grind, and edge geometry. An overly hard treatment or excessively thin edge can reduce durability, while an unnecessarily thick blade may survive rough use but cut poorly.

Edge Retention — Good

Nitro-V provides Good edge retention for general survival and camp tasks.

It does not retain an edge as long as M398 during extended abrasive cutting and generally falls behind S45VN and MagnaCut in wear resistance. That is part of the trade-off that gives Nitro-V greater toughness and easier sharpening.

For many users, this is a practical compromise. The edge may require attention sooner, but routine touch-ups and minor repairs are easier.

Ease of Sharpening — Better

Nitro-V receives a Better ease-of-sharpening rating.

It responds well to common quality sharpening equipment and is easier to reprofile or repair than the more wear-resistant steels in this group. Diamond abrasives can improve speed, but they are not as essential as they are with M398.

That makes Nitro-V practical for users who sharpen regularly, carry compact field equipment, or expect to maintain the knife away from a full workshop.

Corrosion Resistance — Good

Nitro-V provides Good corrosion resistance.

It handles ordinary rain, humidity, food preparation, and outdoor use better than conventional carbon and tool steels. It should still be cleaned after exposure to sweat, salt, food acids, or prolonged moisture and dried before being returned to the sheath.

It does not match MagnaCut or M398 in severe corrosive environments.

Best Survival-Knife Roles

• General-purpose fixed blades
• Camp knives
• Bushcraft knives
• Carving and notching
• Moderate wood processing
• Utility cutting
• Users with limited sharpening equipment
• Users who prioritize toughness and maintainability

Main Limitations

• Moderate rather than exceptional edge retention
• Lower corrosion resistance than MagnaCut or M398
• Performance that can vary with manufacturer heat treatment
• Less appeal for users seeking maximum wear resistance

Toughness — Poor

M398 receives the Poor toughness rating within this group.

Its high carbide volume helps produce exceptional wear resistance, but it also reduces the steel’s ability to resist chipping, cracking, and fracture under impact or lateral stress.

M398 is poorly suited to:

• Heavy chopping
• Twisting cuts
• Prying
• Impact-heavy wood processing
• Hard baton-assisted splitting
• Rough use with a thin, highly stressed edge

A well-designed M398 knife can perform normal cutting reliably. The Poor rating does not mean the steel is poor quality or unsuitable for knives—only that toughness is its weakest property compared with the other steels in this group.

Edge Retention — Best

M398 receives the Best edge-retention rating.

Its very high wear resistance allows it to continue cutting abrasive materials after lower-wear steels have begun to dull. It is especially effective for long periods of controlled slicing.

That makes it well suited to:

• Skinning
• Food preparation
• Slicing fibrous material
• Controlled utility cutting
• Tasks where long edge life matters more than impact resistance

Its advantage is greatest when the edge is used carefully. If the edge chips, repairing the damage can require much more work than routine sharpening of a lower-wear steel.

Ease of Sharpening — Poor

M398 receives the Poor ease-of-sharpening rating.

The same wear resistance that helps it retain an edge also resists the abrasives used to sharpen it. Conventional stones may remove material very slowly, especially during reprofiling or chip repair.

Diamond or CBN abrasives are strongly preferred.

M398 is a poor choice for users who expect to rely on:

• Improvised stones
• Soft natural abrasives
• Small ceramic rods alone
• Minimal sharpening experience
• Quick field reprofiling

Regular touch-ups before the edge becomes severely dull are especially important.

Corrosion Resistance — Best

M398 receives a Best corrosion-resistance rating.

It performs very well in humid conditions, food preparation, and other situations where staining resistance matters. Even so, saltwater, food acids, surface contamination, and wet storage can still cause problems.

The knife should still be cleaned, dried, and inspected after exposure to moisture or corrosive materials.

Best Survival-Knife Roles

• Slicing-oriented secondary knives
• Skinning knives
• Food-preparation knives
• Small utility knives
• Humid-environment cutting tools
• Users who prioritize maximum edge retention
• Users equipped with diamond or CBN sharpeners

It generally makes more sense as a specialist companion knife than as the sole hard-use survival knife.

Main Limitations

• Low toughness
• Greater risk of chipping under inappropriate use
• Difficult sharpening
• Time-consuming chip repair
• Poor suitability for impact-heavy work
• High cost
• Limited benefit in a thick, inefficient blade

Toughness — Good

S45VN receives a Good toughness rating within this group.

It provides enough toughness for ordinary cutting, camp tasks, and general outdoor use, but it is less forgiving than Nitro-V and MagnaCut. It is better suited to controlled cutting than repeated impact, twisting, or heavy chopping.

A properly designed S45VN fixed blade can handle normal survival tasks, but the steel should not be chosen when maximum toughness is the leading requirement.

Edge Retention — Better

S45VN receives a Better edge-retention rating.

It generally retains an edge longer than Nitro-V or SPY27 during comparable cutting tasks. It does not reach the extreme wear resistance of M398, but it offers a more practical balance among edge life, toughness, and sharpening effort.

Actual performance still depends on hardness, heat treatment, edge angle, thickness behind the edge, and the material being cut.

Ease of Sharpening — Good

S45VN receives a Good ease-of-sharpening rating.

It requires more effort than Nitro-V or SPY27 but is much more manageable than M398. Diamond abrasives can make sharpening faster and more consistent, especially during reprofiling or damage repair.

Routine maintenance is practical with suitable equipment, but users should expect slower metal removal than with simpler stainless steels.

Corrosion Resistance — Better

S45VN receives a Better corrosion-resistance rating.

It performs well in rain, humidity, food preparation, and everyday exposure to sweat. Its corrosion resistance is stronger than that of Nitro-V or SPY27 within this group, though it remains below MagnaCut and M398.

It still requires cleaning and drying after saltwater exposure, prolonged moisture, or contact with acidic materials.

Best Survival-Knife Roles

• Premium folding knives
• Medium-duty fixed blades
• General camp cutting
• Food preparation
• Everyday-carry and outdoor crossover knives
• Users who prioritize longer edge life
• Users with suitable modern sharpening equipment

Main Limitations

• Lower toughness than Nitro-V or MagnaCut
• More sharpening effort than Nitro-V or SPY27
• Higher cost than many practical alternatives
• Limited suitability for repeated impact-heavy use
• Performance that can be reduced by thick blade or edge geometry

Toughness — Good

SPY27 receives a Good toughness rating within this group.

It is suitable for ordinary utility cutting, camp tasks, and everyday outdoor use. It is more forgiving than M398 but does not match the toughness emphasis of Nitro-V or the broader hard-use capability of MagnaCut.

SPY27 is best suited to controlled or medium-duty cutting rather than repeated impact, twisting, or heavy chopping.

Edge Retention — Good

SPY27 receives a Good edge-retention rating.

It provides enough edge life for general survival, camp, and everyday cutting, but it falls behind S45VN, MagnaCut, and M398 in this group.

For many users, this is a practical trade-off. SPY27 may require more frequent touch-ups, but restoring the edge is easier than with the more wear-resistant steels.

Ease of Sharpening — Better

SPY27 receives a Better ease-of-sharpening rating.

Its moderate wear resistance and carbide structure make it easier to maintain than S45VN or M398. It responds well to regular light touch-ups and can be maintained with common quality sharpening equipment.

Diamond abrasives can improve speed, but they are not as essential as they are with the highest-wear steels.

Corrosion Resistance — Good

SPY27 receives a Good corrosion-resistance rating.

It handles ordinary rain, humidity, sweat, and food preparation well when normal maintenance is provided. It should still be cleaned after contact with salt, acids, or prolonged moisture and dried before storage.

It does not match MagnaCut or M398 in severe corrosive environments.

Best Survival-Knife Roles

• Everyday-carry knives
• General camp utility knives
• Backup knives
• Food-preparation tasks
• Controlled carving
• Light outdoor cutting
• Users who sharpen regularly
• Users who value balanced performance and easier maintenance

Main Limitations

• It does not lead the group in any major performance category
• Lower edge retention than S45VN, MagnaCut, or M398
• Lower toughness than Nitro-V
• Lower corrosion resistance than MagnaCut or M398
• More limited availability than broadly used steels

Toughness — Better

MagnaCut receives a Better toughness rating within this group.

It is tougher than many earlier premium powder-metallurgy stainless steels and is much better suited to hard-use fixed blades than M398 or S45VN.

Nitro-V remains rated Best for toughness because it places less emphasis on wear resistance and retains a stronger toughness focus. MagnaCut gives up some absolute toughness in exchange for better edge retention and much stronger corrosion resistance.

Heat treatment, hardness, blade thickness, and edge geometry still determine how much toughness the finished knife provides.

Edge Retention — Better

MagnaCut receives a Better edge-retention rating.

It offers stronger wear resistance than Nitro-V or SPY27 but does not reach the extreme edge retention of M398.

This makes MagnaCut a more balanced option for users who want good edge life without accepting very low toughness or severe sharpening difficulty.

Ease of Sharpening — Better

MagnaCut receives a Better ease-of-sharpening rating.

Its carbide structure makes it more manageable than M398, even though it still benefits from diamond abrasives. Routine sharpening and ordinary damage repair are practical with suitable equipment.

It is not as easy to sharpen as simple low-alloy steels, but its sharpening response is favorable for a premium stainless steel with this level of corrosion resistance and edge retention.

Corrosion Resistance — Best

MagnaCut receives a Best corrosion-resistance rating.

Its alloy design leaves more chromium available in the steel matrix, producing exceptional resistance to staining, pitting, and rust. That makes it especially well suited to humid, wet, coastal, and food-preparation environments.

It should still be rinsed after saltwater exposure, dried before sheathing, and inspected during long-term use. The blade may resist corrosion better than the knife’s hardware, fasteners, or sheath fittings.

Best Survival-Knife Roles

• High-end general-purpose survival knives
• One-knife outdoor systems
• Humid or tropical environments
• Coastal and marine use
• Food preparation
• Fixed blades requiring both toughness and corrosion resistance
• Premium camp knives
• Users with limited maintenance opportunities

Main Limitations

• Higher cost
• Variation in manufacturer heat treatment
• Premium pricing driven partly by demand
• Performance that can be wasted by poor blade geometry
• Capabilities that may exceed what some users actually need
• The need to match hardness to blade size and intended use

Best Toughness: Nitro-V

Nitro-V is the strongest choice when toughness and field practicality are the leading requirements.

It is more forgiving during harder cutting and moderate wood processing than the higher-wear steels in this group. Its manageable sharpening also makes routine maintenance and minor edge repair more practical.

CPM MagnaCut is the stronger alternative when corrosion resistance and edge retention must improve without giving up too much toughness.

Best Edge Retention: Böhler M398 Microclean

Böhler M398 Microclean is the clear edge-retention specialist.

It is best suited to prolonged, controlled cutting and abrasive materials. That advantage comes with low toughness, difficult sharpening, and time-consuming chip repair.

M398 should be selected because its specialization fits the expected tasks—not simply because it produces the longest edge life.

Most Manageable Sharpening: Nitro-V and CPM SPY27

Nitro-V and CPM SPY27 both receive Better ease-of-sharpening ratings, but they suit somewhat different priorities.

Nitro-V combines manageable sharpening with the strongest toughness in the group.

SPY27 combines manageable sharpening with balanced premium stainless performance.

Neither provides the longest edge retention, but both are practical for users who prefer regular maintenance over difficult major sharpening sessions.

Best Corrosion Resistance: Böhler M398 Microclean and CPM MagnaCut

Böhler M398 Microclean and CPM MagnaCut both receive Best corrosion-resistance ratings.

M398 combines corrosion resistance with extreme wear resistance.

MagnaCut combines corrosion resistance with much stronger toughness and broader survival usefulness.

For a primary survival knife, MagnaCut is generally the more versatile choice.

Best Premium Generalist: CPM S45VN

CPM S45VN provides strong edge retention and corrosion resistance without moving toward the extremes of M398.

It is especially appropriate for premium folding knives, medium-duty fixed blades, and users who value longer edge life more than maximum toughness or sharpening ease.

Best User-Friendly Balance: CPM SPY27

CPM SPY27 does not lead the group in any single category.

Its value comes from useful performance without a severe maintenance burden. It provides adequate edge retention, useful toughness, good corrosion resistance, and manageable sharpening.

That can make it more practical than a higher-performing steel whose main advantages the user does not need.

General Camp Cutting

General camp work may include cutting cordage, opening packaging, preparing food, carving stakes, trimming wood, and making light repairs.

Strong choices include:

• CPM MagnaCut
• Nitro-V
• CPM S45VN
• CPM SPY27

For these tasks, blade geometry may matter more than small differences in steel. A thin, well-ground Nitro-V blade may cut more efficiently than a thick MagnaCut blade, even though MagnaCut has the stronger overall property balance.

Wood Processing

Wood processing places greater emphasis on toughness, edge stability, appropriate blade thickness, reliable heat treatment, and controlled technique.

Nitro-V and CPM MagnaCut are the strongest choices in this group.

Nitro-V emphasizes toughness and easier repair. MagnaCut adds stronger edge retention and corrosion resistance while retaining useful toughness.

Böhler M398 Microclean is poorly suited to impact-heavy wood processing because of its low toughness.

A survival knife can handle carving, notching, feather-stick preparation, and limited splitting, but an axe or hatchet is the proper tool for heavier chopping and splitting.

Food Preparation

Food preparation favors corrosion resistance, thin blade geometry, cutting efficiency, ease of cleaning, and edge stability.

CPM MagnaCut is the strongest broad-purpose choice.

CPM S45VN and CPM SPY27 are also well suited to food preparation. M398 can provide exceptional slicing edge retention in a thin, controlled blade, but its lower toughness makes it less versatile outside that role.

Humid, Wet, and Coastal Environments

CPM MagnaCut, Böhler M398 Microclean, and CPM S45VN provide the strongest corrosion resistance in this group.

MagnaCut is the strongest overall choice for coastal or saltwater use because it combines exceptional corrosion resistance with useful toughness.

The complete knife still matters. Corrosion-resistant blade steel may be paired with hardware that rusts, a handle that traps moisture, or a sheath that drains poorly.

Long Cutting Sessions

Böhler M398 Microclean is the strongest choice for extended controlled cutting.

CPM S45VN and CPM MagnaCut provide more balanced alternatives when the edge may also encounter harder materials, lateral stress, or occasional impact.

Users choosing M398 for its edge retention should also plan to carry or own suitable diamond or CBN sharpening equipment.

Limited Sharpening Equipment

Nitro-V and CPM SPY27 are the strongest choices when sharpening equipment is limited.

Both are more practical to maintain with compact equipment than the higher-wear steels.

CPM S45VN and CPM MagnaCut remain manageable but benefit from quality diamond abrasives. M398 is the weakest choice for improvised or minimal sharpening.

One-Knife Survival Use

CPM MagnaCut and Nitro-V are the strongest one-knife candidates.

Choose MagnaCut when:

• Corrosion exposure is high
• The knife must cover several roles
• Edge retention matters
• Maintenance opportunities may be limited

Choose Nitro-V when:

• Toughness is the highest priority
• Field sharpening and repair matter
• Moderate edge retention is acceptable
• Practical value matters more than premium specifications

Secondary or Specialist Knife

A multi-knife system allows greater specialization.

M398 can serve as a long-cutting slicing knife while a tougher fixed blade handles harder work.

SPY27 can serve as an easy-maintenance utility or backup knife.

S45VN can serve as a premium everyday-carry and outdoor crossover knife.

Heat Treatment

Heat treatment influences:

• Hardness
• Toughness
• Wear resistance
• Edge stability
• Carbide condition
• Corrosion behavior
• Sharpening response

Higher hardness can improve edge retention and edge stability, but it may reduce toughness. Lower hardness may improve toughness but allow the edge to roll or dull more quickly.

The correct balance depends on the steel, blade size, edge geometry, and intended use.

Heat-Treatment Considerations by Steel

Nitro-V needs competent heat treatment to provide useful edge retention without giving up the toughness that defines its role.

Böhler M398 Microclean requires careful heat treatment and protective geometry because its low toughness leaves less room for error.

CPM S45VN should be treated to preserve its general-purpose balance rather than chasing maximum hardness alone.

CPM SPY27 performs best when heat treatment maintains its intended balance and manageable sharpening response.

CPM MagnaCut offers useful heat-treatment flexibility, but the target hardness should still match the knife. A small slicing folder and a larger fixed blade may appropriately use different hardness and geometry.

Blade Thickness and Primary Grind

Thicker blades resist bending but usually cut less efficiently.

Thinner blades cut with less resistance but place more stress on the steel and edge.

A premium steel cannot compensate for excessive thickness behind the edge. A thick M398 blade may give up much of the slicing performance that would justify choosing M398. A well-designed Nitro-V or MagnaCut blade may provide better cutting performance even with lower wear resistance.

Edge Geometry

The final edge must balance cutting efficiency with durability.

A thinner, lower-angle edge cuts more efficiently but experiences greater stress. A thicker, higher-angle edge is more durable but requires more force and may perform poorly in fine cutting.

Tougher steels can generally support more efficient edge geometry with less risk of chipping. Lower-toughness steels require greater protection from impact and lateral stress.

Nitro-V

Nitro-V is relatively easy to maintain with:

• Quality aluminum-oxide stones
• Ceramic sharpeners
• Diamond plates
• Guided systems
• Compact field sharpeners

It is practical for routine touch-ups, reprofiling, and minor edge repair.

Böhler M398 Microclean

M398 strongly favors diamond or CBN abrasives.

Its extreme wear resistance makes conventional sharpening slow, especially during reprofiling or chip repair. Regular touch-ups before the edge becomes severely dull are much easier than waiting until major sharpening is required.

CPM S45VN

S45VN is manageable with suitable equipment, though it requires more effort than Nitro-V or SPY27.

Diamond abrasives improve speed and consistency, particularly during reprofiling. Routine maintenance is practical, but major edge repair can still take time.

CPM SPY27

SPY27 is well suited to frequent light maintenance.

It responds reasonably well to common quality sharpening equipment and is easier to restore than the more wear-resistant steels in this group. Diamond abrasives can improve efficiency but are not essential for ordinary touch-ups.

CPM MagnaCut

MagnaCut is relatively manageable for a premium stainless steel.

It benefits from diamond abrasives, especially at higher hardness, but it does not create the same sharpening burden as M398. Routine maintenance and ordinary damage repair remain practical with suitable equipment.

Touch-Ups and Edge Repair

Frequent light touch-ups are usually easier than allowing the edge to become completely dull.

A strop can help maintain or refine a lightly worn edge, but it cannot replace sharpening when:

• The apex has rounded
• Chips are present
• The edge angle needs correction
• Significant material must be removed

High-wear steels benefit most from preventive maintenance because major sharpening requires more time and more effective abrasives.

Nitro-V

Nitro-V often provides strong practical value in fixed blades.

Its combination of toughness, stainless performance, and manageable sharpening may be more useful to many survival-knife users than a more expensive steel with greater edge retention but lower toughness and harder maintenance.

Böhler M398 Microclean

M398 provides good value only when its specialization is genuinely useful.

It makes sense for users who need maximum edge retention during controlled cutting and already have suitable diamond or CBN sharpening equipment.

It provides poor value when selected for a hard-use primary survival knife or purchased mainly because of its specifications.

CPM S45VN

S45VN offers strong premium general-purpose performance.

It can provide good value in folding knives and medium-duty fixed blades when edge retention and corrosion resistance are priorities. Its higher cost is less compelling when maximum toughness or easier field sharpening matters more.

CPM SPY27

SPY27’s value comes from balanced performance and manageable maintenance.

Its more limited availability may reduce the number of knife models and price points available. The complete knife should therefore matter more than the steel name alone.

CPM MagnaCut

MagnaCut can justify a premium when its broad property balance is useful.

It offers especially strong value for:

• Humid or coastal environments
• One-knife survival systems
• Fixed blades needing toughness and corrosion resistance
• Users with limited maintenance opportunities
• Knives expected to cover several outdoor roles

Its advantages can still be wasted by poor heat treatment, inefficient blade geometry, or weak overall construction.

Evaluate the Complete Knife

Before purchasing, consider:

• Steel
• Heat treatment
• Blade thickness
• Primary grind
• Edge geometry
• Tang or pivot construction
• Handle security
• Sheath quality
• Hardware
• Manufacturer reputation
• Warranty
• Intended tasks
• Total cost

Choosing by Newness Alone

A recent steel is not automatically better than an older, well-established steel.

A newer alloy may improve one property, but that improvement may not matter for the user’s actual tasks. Older steels may still offer better toughness, easier sharpening, lower cost, or more consistent manufacturer experience.

Choosing by Reputation

A widely praised steel may still be a poor match for a particular knife, environment, or user.

Steel reputation should begin the evaluation—not end it.

Choosing Maximum Edge Retention by Default

Maximum edge retention can bring important trade-offs:

• Lower toughness
• More difficult sharpening
• Harder chip repair
• Greater dependence on specialized abrasives
• Higher cost

Long edge life is valuable only when those compromises fit the expected use.

Ignoring Sharpening Equipment

A knife steel should be matched to the sharpening equipment available.

Choosing M398 while relying only on a basic ceramic rod or improvised stone can create a serious maintenance problem. High-wear steels are much more practical when diamond or CBN abrasives are available.

Ignoring Heat Treatment

The steel name does not guarantee finished performance.

A premium alloy with poor heat treatment can perform worse than a simpler steel with competent heat treatment. Manufacturer reputation, hardness, and intended use should all be considered.

Ignoring Blade and Edge Geometry

An excessively thick blade can make a premium steel cut poorly.

An overly thin or acute edge can make a lower-toughness steel chip during tasks it was not designed to handle.

Steel, blade design, and edge geometry must work together.

Treating Stainless Steel as Maintenance-Free

Stainless steels can still stain, pit, or rust.

Saltwater, sweat, food acids, contamination, wet storage, and corrosion-prone hardware can still create problems. Even highly corrosion-resistant steels should be cleaned, dried, and inspected.

Paying for Performance the Knife Cannot Use

Examples include:

• Extreme wear resistance in a thick chopping blade
• Premium corrosion resistance for a knife used only in dry conditions and cleaned immediately
• Maximum toughness in a small slicing-only folder
• Expensive steel paired with a poor handle, sheath, or heat treatment

Choose Nitro-V When

• Toughness is a leading priority
• The knife may perform harder outdoor cutting
• Manageable sharpening matters
• Moderate edge retention is acceptable
• Stainless performance is wanted
• Practical value matters more than prestige

Nitro-V is especially appropriate for a durable working fixed blade.

Choose Böhler M398 Microclean When

• Maximum edge retention is the leading priority
• Cutting will remain controlled
• Corrosion resistance matters
• Impact-heavy use is unlikely
• Diamond or CBN sharpening equipment is available
• Difficult damage repair is an acceptable trade-off

M398 is better suited to a specialist cutting knife than a hard-use primary survival blade.

Choose CPM S45VN When

• Premium general-purpose stainless performance is wanted
• Edge retention matters more than maximum toughness
• Strong corrosion resistance is useful
• The knife will primarily perform controlled cutting
• Moderate sharpening effort is acceptable

S45VN is particularly suitable for premium folders and medium-duty fixed blades.

Choose CPM SPY27 When

• Balanced performance is preferred
• Easier sharpening matters
• Extreme edge retention is unnecessary
• The edge will receive regular touch-ups
• A user-friendly powder-metallurgy stainless steel is wanted

SPY27 is a practical utility and everyday-carry option.