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Alleima 13C26 is a stainless steel developed for razor-blade applications. That background makes edge geometry a useful starting point when looking at a knife made from it. A steel intended for thin edges still depends on the knife maker’s heat treatment and grind to deliver a good cutting experience.
What Is 13C26?
13C26 is a specific Alleima grade, historically associated with the Sandvik name. It is separate from 12C27, 19C27 and 14C28N. Its producer sheet concerns razor-blade strip, so its supply condition and treatment guidance should not be read as the specification for every finished pocket knife.
What Matters for Cutting Performance?
The appeal of a thin cutting edge is how readily it enters material, but the steel name does not tell you how thin the maker has ground it. For everyday slicing, look at the blade thickness, edge angle and intended use. A razor-steel background does not mean the knife should be treated like a razor or used for twisting cuts.
Care and Sharpening
Clean away salt or food residue and dry the blade after wet use. When sharpening, keep the existing bevel consistent and remove the burr before judging the result. If the edge is damaged, use a coarser abrasive for repair rather than trying to polish the damage away.
Choosing a Knife in 13C26
Check the complete grade name and the maker’s description of the blade. A well-described grind and appropriate handle matter more than treating all similarly named Alleima steels as interchangeable. Older Sandvik branding alone does not establish a different alloy. Our knife steel guide explains the wider material tradeoffs.
Composition
Our composition guide explains what alloy values can and cannot tell you.
Alleima 13C26: producer nominal with impurity maxima; selected reported elements, not an assay of a finished knife. Alleima: 13C26 technical sheet.
| Element | Alleima 13C26 |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.68% |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.4% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.7% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 13% |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤0.025% |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤0.01% |
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Sources and Update Notes
This steel is not included in the numerical ratings used by our comparison tool.
