Sleipner Steel Knife Blade Blanks
Sleipner is Uddeholm’s answer to D2, a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium tool steel with a finer, more even carbide structure than the older alloy it improves on. The practical effect is better toughness and a cleaner edge at the same wear resistance.
We run Sleipner at 60 to 62 HRC. Kitchen profiles are heat treated to 60-61 HRC, and selected models are available with a stonewash finish that hides use marks well.
Where it fits
Sleipner sits between our stainless steels and our powder steels. It holds an edge considerably longer than N690 and costs less than Elmax or M390. Good waterstones or ceramic will sharpen it; you do not strictly need diamond.
The trade is corrosion resistance. Sleipner is a tool steel, not a true stainless; it will patina and can spot if left wet. Wipe the blade dry after use and it looks after itself. If the knife will live in a sink or on a boat, choose N690 or Vanax instead.
How these blanks are made
After laser cutting, each profile is hand ground in our own workshop with jigs made for each profile, then heat treated at Voestalpine in industrial vacuum furnaces. No scale, no decarburised layer, documented cycles and repeatable hardness batch after batch. Ground through 40, 120 and 240 grit before heat treatment and shipped sharpened unless the order note asks otherwise, with free laser engraving of your name.
Want to understand what the hardness numbers mean? See our guide to blade hardness.
Sleipner steel: properties, hardness and how it compares
Sleipner steel is an Uddeholm cold work tool steel, an improved D2 type with a finer, more even carbide structure, which gives better toughness and a cleaner edge at the same wear resistance. We harden our Sleipner blanks to 60-62 HRC at Voestalpine.
Compared with D2, Sleipner is tougher at a similar edge life. Compared with N690, it holds an edge considerably longer but is not a true stainless, so keep it dry.
| Steel | Our hardness | Edge retention | Corrosion resistance | Sharpening | Best for |
|---|
| Sleipner | 60-62 HRC | High | Low, keep it dry | Waterstones or ceramic | Hard use outdoor knives |
| D2 (K110) | 60-61 HRC | High | Fair, can stain | Waterstones or ceramic | Long edge life at a moderate price |
| N690 | 58-60 HRC | Good | Excellent | Easy, ordinary waterstones | One steel for kitchen and outdoor |
Related categories
Related reading: what HRC really means and choosing steel for outdoor and EDC knives.