A coining die steel that became a cult knife legend, where extraordinary toughness meets real hardness.
CD#1
For the Newcomer
CD#1 is Carpenter's A steel made for industrial stamping dies that press metal into shape, so it must absorb enormous repeated impact without cracking., designed for industrial punches absorbing massive impact forces. Someone made a knife out of it. The knife community discovered it. A small, passionate following emerged. It is not stainless, but for makers who want powder-steel carbide refinement with maximum toughness and will manage the care requirements, CD#1 is genuinely compelling. Kitchen knife applications are rare and artisanal, which is exactly what makes them interesting.
About this composition
Why it works as a knife steel. Coining die steels must survive millions of high-impact cycles. That impact toughness translates directly to knife use: a CD#1 blade absorbs lateral stresses that would chip a VG-10 or SG2 blade.
Performance Deep Dive
Edge retention: Moderate to good.
Lower than premium powder-metallurgy stainless. The edge degrades gradually and predictably rather than chipping suddenly, and many users find this preferable.
Toughness: Exceptional, the defining characteristic.
Corrosion resistance: Moderate.
At roughly 4% chromium it is Below the chromium level for true stainless, so it resists rust far better than carbon steel but still needs drying and light oiling.. Dry immediately after use. Light camellia or mineral oil is recommended for storage.
Ease of sharpening: Good.
Easier than high-vanadium PM steels.
Research Notes
If you encounter a custom knife in CD#1, it almost certainly comes from a small American shop whose maker specifically sought it out for a performance reason. Ask them what that reason is: it is always a good story. Brandon Hampton at Meglio (trained at Strider Knives) is the most visible CD#1 advocate in the kitchen-knife world; individual semi-custom and full-custom CD#1 builds are limited quantity and sell through.
In the Kitchen
CD#1 is for the cook who beats up their knife: heavy mise-en-place prep, breaking down poultry, light bone work, contact with hard cutting surfaces. The toughness is real and the trade-off is small, a quick wipe-dry and a periodic mineral-oil rub. Several builds add a A diamond-like carbon coating: a thin, very hard black surface layer that boosts wear resistance and adds some corrosion protection. for extra surface protection. Pair with a robust Western-chef or kiritsuke profile that takes advantage of the impact resistance. General upkeep guidance lives in the care section.
Composition
| Element | % | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.8 | Moderate-high; 60–63 HRC without maxing carbide volume |
| Chromium (Cr) | 4 | Below stainless threshold; moderate corrosion protection |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 5 | Very high; primary contributor to toughness |
| Vanadium (V) | 2 | Wear resistance contribution |
Steel family: Carpenter Micro-Melt (proprietary PM process), designed as a coining die steel meant to survive millions of high-impact cycles. The impact toughness translates directly to knife use: CD#1 absorbs lateral stresses that would chip a VG-10 or SG2 blade.
Artisan Makers
| Maker | Knife | Style | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meglio Knives | 6.5" CD#1 Kiritsuke, DLC coated, G10 handle, blue Ti hardware (semi-custom) | Japanese kiritsuke, 18° per side | $489 | meglioknives.com |