Handmade stainless steel steak knives

Handmade stainless steel steak knives. The blades of these steak knives are made from X39Cr13 martensitic stainless steel. These handmade steak knives need to be tempered to hold a sharp edge. The handles are of various woods (L-R) olive, kingwood (violetwood), box, ebony, juniper and rosewood. X39Cr13 or Z40C13 is a stainless steel alloy which comprises high carbon steel alloy with chromium for tensile strength and edge retention, enhanced corrosion and wear resistance. It also contains small quantities of manganese, silicon, phosphorus and sulphur. Just very small adjustments to the percentages of these metals, as well as the percentage of carbon, make a steel formulae that can alter the edge retention, corrosion and wear resistance, sharpness, machinability and toughness., by MARTYN F. CHILLMAID/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY