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N690 is a stainless knife steel with useful corrosion resistance and moderate abrasive edge retention. It can make sense for a daily-carry knife when the blade shape, handle and price are right. Its toughness is a more modest part of the balance, so it is better considered for controlled cutting than chosen primarily to resist edge damage.
What Is Böhler N690?
N690 is Böhler's conventionally produced, corrosion-resistant chromium steel with molybdenum, vanadium and cobalt additions. This profile covers N690, not similarly named Böhler grades. Cobalt is part of the design, but its presence by itself does not prove that a knife will hold an edge longer or resist chipping better.
Performance Ratings
For the science, we turn to Dr. Larrin Thomas of Knife Steel Nerds, who has kindly allowed us to share his ratings here.
| Property | Böhler N690 |
|---|---|
| Abrasive edge retention | |
| Toughness | |
| Corrosion resistance |
Heat treatment, hardness and geometry affect actual knives.
Explore Böhler N690’s Tradeoffs
Choose a steel above to highlight its position and see all three exact ratings below. The full map fits your screen.
Stainless
Böhler N690
- Abrasive edge retention
- 4.5
- Toughness
- 3.5
- Corrosion resistance
- 8
Same position; corrosion ratings may differ:
All 48 rated materials. Numbers group steels at identical coordinates; colors describe stainless classification, not corrosion scores. Neither direction means a universally better knife.
Böhler N690’s ratings are shown above. Enable JavaScript to select another steel, or browse the full ratings table.
Edge Retention in Daily Use
N690 scores 4.5 for abrasive edge retention, matching VG-10 and 154CM in this framework. That is a useful level for mixed everyday cutting, though higher wear-resistance steels may suit repeated abrasive slicing better. Equal ratings do not mean knives in those steels will feel identical: geometry and heat treatment remain important.
Our VG-10 profile is useful if you are weighing another stainless option with similar abrasive edge retention.
Toughness and Edge Support
Its toughness rating is 3.5. If your cutting repeatedly chips an edge, a tougher steel or a more supportive edge angle deserves attention before another step up in wear resistance. For ordinary slicing, choose a blade shape and grind suited to what you cut and avoid assuming that stainless classification predicts toughness.
Corrosion Resistance and Sharpening
N690's corrosion-resistance rating is 8, a useful property for a pocket knife that encounters moisture. Clean away food, salt and other residue, then dry the knife before storage. Its hardware can need care even when the blade appears unaffected.
Suitable conventional sharpening stones can be used for N690, with diamond abrasives another option. A steady angle and complete burr removal are useful starting points. If an edge is damaged, move to an appropriate coarser grit rather than trying to do all the repair on a fine stone.
Is N690 a Good Choice for Your Knife?
N690 is worth considering in a knife whose overall design suits you. Its corrosion resistance can be useful, while the modest toughness rating helps set realistic expectations. Compare the grind, handle comfort and carry size rather than paying for a steel name alone, especially when the alternatives have similar ratings. Our knife steel guide explains the wider tradeoffs.
Composition
Our steel composition guide explains what the elements do and how to read these values.
Böhler N690: Böhler N690 average composition, mass %; not a finished-blade assay. Böhler: N690.
| Element | Böhler N690 |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1.08% |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.4% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.4% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 17.3% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1.1% |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.1% |
| Cobalt (Co) | 1.5% |
