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8Cr13MoV is a stainless steel commonly found in affordable pocket knives. It offers a useful balance for everyday cutting, with less abrasive edge retention than many higher-alloy steels. A comfortable handle, a thin cutting edge and sound heat treatment can make more difference to a light-use knife than spending more for a different steel name.
What Is 8Cr13MoV?
8Cr13MoV is a conventional stainless steel related to AUS-8. In his 2024 investigation, Larrin Thomas found no compositional distinction between the 8Cr13MoV and 8Cr14MoV designations he examined. That supports treating the names together here, while keeping the displayed chemistry tied to Spyderco’s specific report. It does not guarantee the identity or quality of every commercially labeled blade.
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.
The selected framework groups AUS-8 and 8Cr13MoV in one ratings row. The composition below is specific to Spyderco’s 8Cr13MoV report.
| Property | 8Cr13MoV |
|---|---|
| Abrasive edge retention | |
| Toughness | |
| Corrosion resistance |
Heat treatment, hardness and geometry affect actual knives.
Explore 8Cr13MoV’s Tradeoffs
Choose a steel above to highlight its position and see all three exact ratings below. The full map fits your screen.
Stainless
8Cr13MoV
- Abrasive edge retention
- 3
- Toughness
- 6
- Corrosion resistance
- 7Source estimate
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.
8Cr13MoV’s ratings are shown above. Enable JavaScript to select another steel, or browse the full ratings table.
Edge Retention for Everyday Cutting
The selected ratings give 8Cr13MoV an abrasive edge-retention score of 3. It can suit opening packages and other ordinary slicing when you are happy to touch up the edge. For long sessions through abrasive material, a steel with greater wear resistance may reduce how often you need to sharpen. Thomas’s later tests broadly supported his original edge-retention assessment; they do not predict a fixed number of cuts for a finished knife.
Toughness and Blade Geometry
Its toughness rating is 6. That is a useful part of the balance, but it does not make a thin edge immune to damage. Choose the grind and edge angle for the work, and avoid twisting the blade in a cut. The 2024 study also found heat-treatment and microstructure differences worth considering, so a steel label alone cannot tell you how a particular knife will perform.
Sharpening and Corrosion Care
Plan on regular touch-ups rather than waiting for the edge to become badly worn. Use an abrasive that cuts the steel effectively, keep a consistent angle and remove the burr before finishing. Its corrosion-resistance rating is 7, but Thomas did not measure corrosion resistance in the 2024 study. Clean away salt or food residue and dry the knife before storage.
Is 8Cr13MoV a Good Choice?
For an inexpensive knife used occasionally or maintained regularly, 8Cr13MoV can be a sensible choice. Check the actual knife’s cutting geometry, ergonomics and maker support before dismissing it as a budget steel. If you routinely wear an edge dull during a job, greater abrasive wear resistance may be worth seeking; otherwise, choose the knife that handles the task comfortably.
Composition
Our steel composition guide explains what the elements do and how to read these values.
8Cr13MoV: Spyderco reported 8Cr13MoV chemistry; values are not individually labeled nominal or typical; not a finished-blade assay. Spyderco: 2026 Steel Chart, 8Cr13MoV.
| Element | 8Cr13MoV |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.8% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 13% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.15% |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.1% |
| Nickel (Ni) | 0.2% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.4% |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.5% |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.02% |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.01% |
