Thread: Stainless or Carbon

Saying "carbon" vs "stainless" is kind of like saying Ford vs Chevy. There are many different types of both "stainless" and non-stainless. There are too many factors as others have already mentioned to say that one is better than the other. Basic "carbon" steel is iron with .5% to 1% carbon added to it. This allows it to be heat treated so it will hold an edge and be flexible. It also gets a very fine (thin) edge relatively easily. As other elements are added to the steel they can change the way it behaves. For instance if they add about 13% chromium, they then call it "stainless" as it resists corrosion quite well. The chromium also increases the wear resistance which can make it hard to sharpen and can also increase its ability to hold an edge. There are endless possibilities, but as already mentioned, other things can have an even greater impact on performance such as grind and heat treatment.

Yup, Stainless steel simply has Chromium added to the steel for corrosion resistance. Tool steel is also higher in chromium but not high enough to make it stainless. Now also keep in mind the name, it is Stain Less steel, not no stain or no corrosion. Under the right conditions will stain/corrode. Most stainless is softer on the Rockwell hardness scale than carbon steel and it tends to take a less keen edge. The key is how it is tempered. The good stuff is ice or cryogenic hardened. Most of my stainless knifes are cryo hardened and have a 58-62 hardness.

I have both, and as long as it is a properly treated stainless it will give you a good shave. As others have noted they can tend to take a few more passes on the hone but tend to hold their edge better. Now is that the hardness of the blade or simply because the steel does not oxidize like carbon steel so the edge stays fresher longer, I dont know. You will get a good shave from either and if you live in a high humidity location or do something silly like keep your blades in the bathroom where they get steamy and stay damp then stainless would be a very good option.