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H-2 is a corrosion-focused stainless steel used in Spyderco’s Salt knives. It is aimed at wet conditions where rust resistance matters more than long abrasive cutting. The blade is only part of that choice: look for a secure wet grip and a complete knife suited to the environment.
How Is H-2 Different from H-1?
Spyderco introduced H-2 after reporting that H-1 production would end following changes in Japan’s steel industry. It replaces H-1 with a related formulation that includes more molybdenum. The two names describe different compositions, not interchangeable labels.
What Does the Research Establish?
In his H-2 analysis, Dr. Larrin Thomas explains how cold rolling helps this family of steels harden by transforming austenite into martensite. That differs from the heat-and-quench hardening used for most knife steels.
His expectation was broadly similar behavior to H-1: high corrosion resistance and toughness, with modest abrasive wear resistance because of the lack of hard carbides. Those are research-based expectations, not a measured three-property rating for H-2.
Sharpening and Wet-Use Care
Follow the maker’s sharpening guidance, especially for serrations. Match the edge shape, use light controlled strokes and remove the burr. Routine sharpening should not be treated as a way to harden the blade.
After saltwater use, rinse and dry the whole knife, including the pivot or sheath. A corrosion-resistant blade does not make every screw, spring or other component equally resistant.
Choosing Between H-1 and H-2 Knives
Compare the actual knives and their condition, edge type and intended use. H-2's role as a successor does not make every older H-1 knife unsuitable, nor does it supply a tested upgrade claim for every cutting task. For a new purchase, clear information from the maker and a secure, comfortable design are more useful than a broad promise attached to the steel change. Our knife steel guide explains the other material options.
Composition
Our composition guide explains what alloy values can and cannot tell you.
H-2: Spyderco knife-maker-reported composition: ranges and single reported values, not a producer batch certificate. Sulfur is shown to the source’s two-decimal precision; 0.00 does not establish that sulfur is absent. Spyderco: steel chart.
| Element | H-2 |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.09% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 13.73% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 2.24% |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.06% |
| Nickel (Ni) | 8.25% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.31% |
| Silicon (Si) | 2.63% |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.17% |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.03% |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.00% |
Compare Two Knife Steels
Sources and Update Notes
This steel is not included in the numerical ratings used by our comparison tool.
