Steel profile
M390
M390 is a premium stainless EDC steel with excellent wear resistance and top-tier corrosion performance; 20CV and 204P are practical equivalents.
Learn about M390 Maker Spotlight
Lynn Thompson: The Man Who Made Knives Strong
Discover the story of Lynn Thompson, the founder of Cold Steel, and his relentless pursuit of creating the strongest knives in the world. From the Tri-Ad lock to the American Tanto, his influence is undeniable.
Featured Steels
Start with steels that define the conversation.
These are the steels people search, argue about, and carry. Each guide is written to help readers understand tradeoffs fast.
Steel profile
VG10
The gold standard for Japanese kitchen knives, VG-10 offers a fantastic balance of sharpness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance.
Learn about VG10
Steel profile
Nitro-V
A budget-friendly steel that punches above its weight, offering excellent toughness and corrosion resistance for everyday knives.
Learn about Nitro-VFeatured Makers
Profiles for the people behind the knives.
Design decisions, shop history, and why certain makers still shape the way people talk about modern knives.
Maker profile
Andrew Demko
The engineering powerhouse behind the Tri-Ad lock and founder of Demko Knives, known for his focus on extreme strength.
Read Andrew Demko's profile
Maker profile
Bob Loveless
Widely considered the father of the modern custom knife, Bob Loveless created high-performance tools with clean, functional designs.
Read Bob Loveless's profile
Maker profile
Lynn Thompson
The founder of Cold Steel, Lynn Thompson is a larger-than-life figure who built a brand synonymous with extreme strength and durability.
Read Lynn Thompson's profileExplore the site
Three fast ways to keep digging.
Whether someone is comparing steels, reading maker history, or browsing opinionated articles, the homepage should show the next move clearly.
01
Steels
Performance-first guides that explain edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and where each steel actually fits.
02
Blog
Opinionated field notes, maintenance ideas, and buying context for people who actually carry and use knives.
03
Charts
Quick comparison tools when you want to see tradeoffs instead of reading five tabs to understand one steel.