What is K340 steel?
K340 is also referred to as Böhler K340, it is not stainless steel, as for most steels to be stainless, they must contain 12% minimum chromium in their composition. K340 contains 8.30% chromium, which is lower than the required amount to make it stainless steel.
K340 knife steel is easy to work with and suitable for cold forming, cutting, blanking, and knife making due to its fine microstructure and excellent compressive strength. K340 steel is also easy to heat treat and has a relatively straightforward heat treat process.
K340 Steel Composition
- Carbon C 1.10%: Increases edge retention, hardness, and tensile strength. It also improves steel resistance to wear, abrasion, and corrosion.
- Chromium Cr 8.30%: The formation of Chromium carbide Increases the hardness, tensile strength, and corrosion resistance of the blade.
- Molybdenum Mo 2.10%: It improves corrosion resistance, machinability, and hardness.
- Vanadium V 0.50%: inhibits grain growth during elevated temperature processing and heat treatment, which enhances the strength and toughness of steel. It also forms carbides that increase wear resistance.
- Silicon Si 0.90%: Increases strength and heat resistance.
- Multipurpose Knife Set: This kitchen knives set includes 8" Chef Knife, 8" Slicing Knife, 7" Santoku Knife, 8" Serrated Bread Knife, 5" Utility Knife, 3.5" Paring Knife, Kitchen Shears and 6 pcs Blade Guards
- Anti-rust coating: The healthy anti-rust coating protects the knife from oxidation and dishwasher safe, while the non-stick coating ensures the blades stay clean all day long
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- 【Black Non-Stick & Anti-Rust Coating】 The black coating on the stainless steel surface does a good job of stopping the knives from oxidizing in contact with oxygen in the air, so the kitchen knife set will remain non-stick and rust-proof for years to come.
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- 【EFFORTLESS PRECISION CUTTING】 Engineered with a 0.618 blade ratio for a perfectly balanced cut — smooth on the push, effortless on the pull. The ergonomic handle fits naturally in your hand, reducing wrist fatigue for confident control through every slice and chop.
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K340 Steel Properties
K340 Steel Hardness
Bohler K340 steel has a Rockwell hardness of 57-63 HRC depending on the heat treatment used by the manufacturer. This hardness level is high and is attributed to the blend of carbon, chromium, molybdenum, and manganese in its composition. The high hardness positively impacts its edge retention and wear resistance.
K340 is able to achieve different levels of Rockwell Hardness depending on the tempering temperature applied in the heat treatment stage. A high temperature of about 1020 °F will yield a Rockwell hardness of 62HRC while a low temperature of about 1080 °F will yield 56HRC.
K340 Steel Edge retention
Edge retention is among the areas of excellence of K340 steel. You can use knives made from this steel for a long time without frequent sharpening. The ability to hold an edge for a long time is attributed to high hardness.
Bohler K340 edge retention is better than most knife steels but in the range of D2 steel, CPM 4V, and CPM CruWear steel. It, however, does not get to the level of CPM Rex 45 steel or Bohler M390 steel.
K340 Steel Wear resistance
Bohler K340 offers excellent toughness and good wear resistance. It does not provide the best wear resistance out there, but there are better steels in wear resistance like Bohler M390 steel.
The level of wear resistance of K340 steel knives can be described as decent. This means they can withstand abrasion, but exposing them to highly abrasive applications will leave them damaged.
K340 Steel Toughness
K340 offers great toughness thanks to the Electro Slag Remelting Production process that produces a fine microstructure. Blades made from this steel do not break, chip, or crack when used for challenging applications.
Because of the high toughness, Bohler K340 remains top knife steel, the high toughness makes it ideal for manufacturing survival, bushcraft, and hunting knives. K340 blade steel toughness is better than that of D2 steel approximately similar to that of M2 steel.
K340 Steel Corrosion resistance
Bohler K340 does not contain enough chromium to make it stainless steel. Therefore, blades made from this steel are prone to rust and need care and maintenance. Proper care for K340 knives means washing and drying the knives immediately after use.
The chromium in its composition fights corrosion to some degree, but it does not make the steel rust-free. Apart from Chromium, corrosion resistance is also boosted by Molybdenum in its alloy composition.
If you plan to store the knives for a long time, remove the blades from the sheath and apply a coat of oil to keep rust at bay.
Ease of sharpening Bohler K340
The sharpening ability of steel is determined by its wear resistance. Bohler K340 does not offer very high wear resistance, making it easy to sharpen. You can achieve a razor-sharp edge with standard tools and basic sharpening skills. Maintaining Bohler K340 knives is easy because they are easy to sharpen and hold the sharp edge for a long time.
K340 Steel comparison
K340 steel vs. D2 Steel
Bohler K340 is regarded by most knifemakers as a better version of D2 steel. K340 steel is better than D2 steel in toughness and edge retention and ease of sharpening. This can be attributed to the K340 production process.
D2 is semi-stainless steel with about 11.5% chromium elements in its alloy composition; it thus beats K340 in corrosion resistance. D2 steel also contains a high amount of carbon in its alloy composition, this greatly improves its wear resistance over Bohler K340.
K340 steel vs 1095 steel
K340 steel beats 1095 in toughness, edge retention, wear, and corrosion resistance. 1095, on the other hand, is easier to sharpen. K340 is a better steel choice than 1095 because it beats it in all major steel properties.
K340 vs A2 steel
Like K340, A2 is tool steel, but K340 offers better edge retention and corrosion resistance than A2. A2 contains lesser chromium, and therefore it is more susceptible to rust. A2 steel is tougher than k340 steel but both blade steels offer almost similar wear resistance.
- Premium Steel Construction - The steel rod is made of carbon steel and plated with nickel-chrome; the fine surface of the steel rod prevents the cutting edge from damage when sharpening.
- Versatile Compatibility - Our knife sharpening steel rod is for all types of knives, including kitchen, household, sporting and pocketknives; sharpens standard and serrated edge knives. Restores dull knives to razor-sharp perfection with ease.
- Ergonomic Non-Slip Grip - Easy to use, with an ergonomic handle that fits your hand, be it right or left. The slip-resistant rubber bottom makes the rod easy to handle and firmly stays in place during use.
- Hanging Loop for Storage - Convenient design for easy access and space-saving storage.
- Effortless Maintenance - Use a non-woven cloth soaked with cooking oil to wipe the body and dry it. If washed with water, be sure to wipe the rod dry completely and hang in a cool place to air-dry. Do not put the sharpener into the dishwasher.
- Realigns Knife Edges for Smoother Cutting-This carbon steel knives sharpener honing rod helps realign the edge of your kitchen knives so they cut more smoothly through vegetables, meat, and herbs. A few light strokes before cooking provide quick daily knives sharpening maintenance without removing excessive metal from the blade.
- Designed for Chef Knives and Everyday Kitchen Use-Sized for common chef knives and other everyday kitchen blades, this honing steel is ideal for regular edge care at home. It supports the typical edge angles used on Western‑style chef knives, helping you keep your main cooking knives ready for meal prep, weeknight dinners, and weekend cooking projects.
- Durable Carbon Steel Honing Rod for Long‑Term Use-Made from hardened carbon steel, this knives sharpening rod is built for frequent honing sessions and long‑term durability. It straightens and maintains the blade edge instead of aggressively grinding it, helping extend the life of your knife set over time.
- Non-Slip Handle and Anti‑Slip Metal Tip- The textured, non-slip handle provides a secure grip even when your hands are slightly wet. A hanging loop at the end makes it easy to store on a kitchen rail or hook. With a metal anti‑slip tip at the end, allowing you to brace it securely against a cutting board so it stays in place instead of sliding.
- Practical Kitchen Gift for Many Occasions-This knives sharpener honing rod makes a practical kitchen gift for home cooks, cooking students, and anyone building a better knife set at home. It’s suitable as a thoughtful present for birthdays, Christmas, housewarming parties, or as a small gift for friends and family who enjoy cooking.
- Professional Knife Sharpener Rod: Crafted from high-grade Carbon Steel with premium Nickel-Chrome Plating. This durable honing steel offers superior hardness and corrosion resistance, ensuring your sharpening stick won't rust or wear down easily like generic models.
- Magnetized for Cleaner Sharpening: Our sharpening rod is specially magnetized to attract metal filings produced during use. This unique feature keeps your kitchen knives clean and prevents metal dust from contaminating food—a hygienic advantage over standard rods.
- 13-Inch Total Length Design: Features a convenient 13-inch overall design (rod + handle) that is lightweight and easy to control. The optimized length allows for smooth, fatigue-free maintenance of chef knives, paring knives, and fruit knives.
- Instant Edge Restoration: The rod surface features dense, uniform sawteeth. Just a few strokes on this knife sharpening steel will realign the blade edge, restoring dull knives to razor-sharp performance instantly.
- Ergonomic & Safe Grip: Designed with a streamlined, non-slip PP handle that fits perfectly in your hand. The textured grip ensures the honing rod stays stable during use, providing a safe and efficient sharpening experience without the bulk of heavy guards.
Is K340 good knife steel?
You can protect the blades from rust by cleaning, drying, and oiling them after use. K340 steel equivalent can be regarded as DIN X110CrMoV82 steel. A popular 5-star-rated knife that uses K340 blade steel is the Kizlyar Colada Outdoor Knife.
