Knife steel

When creating a high-performance blade, everything starts with the right knife steel. The material you choose defines the performance, durability, and identity of your knife. Whether you’re working on a rugged outdoor tool or a precision kitchen blade, selecting the right blade steel is essential.

At IK STAL, we specialize in providing steel for knifemaking – tailored to the needs of both professionals and hobbyists. Our range supports everyone from the weekend knifemaker to full-time workshops producing large volumes. As a dedicated knife steel shop, we offer a curated selection of trusted materials and fast, reliable service.

If you’re wondering where to buy knife steel, you’re in the right place.

Knife steel

The term knife steel refers to alloys specifically designed for making knives. These materials offer a balance of hardness, edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness. While many steel types exist, only selected steel grades meet the demands of blades used in everyday tasks, demanding environments, or professional kitchens.

Our material is ideal for cutting knife blade blanks. That gives you full control over the shape of the knife blade, its geometry, the hardening process and the finish.

All our steels are cut on band saws, ensuring straight and sharp steel edges. For detailed information on the steels, including chemical composition and heat treatment recommendations, visit our technical section available in the description of each steel grade.

We stock many types of steel, from trusted carbon alloys to modern stainless and powder steels. Not sure which knife steel suits your project? Our team can help you choose good knife steel based on your intended application.

Types of knifemaking steel

We offer a wide selection of knifemaking steel – in our range you will find proven carbon steels, versatile tool steels, stainless steels, advanced powder steels as well as beautiful damascus steels.

• stainless steel
• carbon steel
• Damascus steel

Carbon and tool steel

Among the most popular choices for rugged knives are carbon and tool steels. Makers favor these materials for their toughness, ease of heat treatment, and excellent edge performance. Steels such as 80CrV2, D2, and Sleipner are widely used for bushcraft, survival, and utility knives.

Carbon and tool steel are well suited for novice craftsmen due to their affordability and relative ease of heat treatment.

Stainless steel

If your blade needs to withstand moisture or food contact, stainless steel is the smart choice. Grades like 14C28N and N690 are known for their fine grain structure and good corrosion resistance. They are suitable for culinary knives, EDC, and tools used in wet environments.

We also offer powder steel options such as Elmax and M390, which combine extreme wear resistance with a fine microstructure. Stainless steel is a must-have for any knifemaker looking for durability without compromising sharpness.

Damascus steel

For those looking for visual appeal and layered performance, we provide Damascus steel forged from carefully selected base alloys. Damascus steel combines beauty and uniqueness – every piece has its own personality.

Whether you forge your own or use pre-laminated material, we support your creativity.

Can't find a knife blade that fits your project perfectly?

Nothing lost, in our shop you can find steel sheets with dimensions closest to the knife you want to make and cut your ideal knife blank yourself. You don't have to order the whole steel sheet – our cut-to-size steel allows you to buy exactly as much as you need.

Why IK STAL is a great choice if you are looking for the best steel for your knife

We don't know about handle materials, we don't know how to stabilise wood - we know about steel because it's our passion. And we love cutting it 

At IK STAL, we believe that a serious maker deserves the best knife steel – and a supplier who understands their craft. We support the knifemaking community across Europe and beyond, providing fast dispatch, personal service, and premium materials.

We are a reliable supplier with years of experience. We deliver to countries all over Europe, shipping daily from our warehouse.

We carry out the entire steel cutting, marking and packaging process in-house, which ensures repeatability and full control of the process to meet our customers' expectations.

We’re proud to offer the best quality steel sourced from certified mills. Whether you’re searching for which knife steel to try next, or need help understanding steel grades, we’re here to assist.

As a knife steel shop, we value transparency and quality. We’re a trustworthy seller for both professionals and those just getting started in knifemaking.

So if you’re asking where to buy knife steel, or looking to upgrade your inventory with best knife steel, IK STAL is your proven partner. With us, creating the perfect knife blade will be easier than ever for you.