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Common Knife Terms

 
1095 Steel -   This is an easy to sharpen, plain carbon steel used in knife making.
     
440A Steel -   440A is a High-carbon stainless steel used in many American production knives.
     
Alumite -   Alumite is a hard coating used to protect aluminum handles from corrosion and scratches.
     
Anodized -   Anodizing is a treatment involving an electric current that colors titanium.
     
Ballistic Cloth -   Ballistic is an extremely durable material used in the manufacture of nylon sheaths.
     
     
Cryogenic
Quenching - 		  The process of freezing blades to -120 degrees fahrenheit to improve blade performance.
     
D2 Steel -   A high-carbon, high-chrome tool steel often used for blanking dies. This steel has excellent edge holding ability but is very difficult to process.
     
Epoxy Powder Coating -   A coating process that protects blades from corrosion and also makes them non-reflective.
     
Flat Ground -   A grind the tapers from the top of the blade down to the cutting edge. Also known as a "V" grind.
     
Full-Length
Tang - 		  Extension of the blade steel that runs completely through the handle to the end of the knife.
     
Full Tang -   A tang that shows all around the handle of the knife between two pieces of handle material.
     
Game Hook -   Also known as a gut hook, this blade shape is best for opening the flesh of game.
     
Glass-Filled
Nylon - 		  Material used to make sheaths. Nylon is reinforced with glass particles and other materials to provide strength and durability while still allowing some flexibility.
     
Guard -   Also known as a hilt, is the piece of steel that separates the handle and the blade. Serves to keep the hand from slipping on the blade when cutting. Can be single or double.
     
Hollow
Ground - 		  The ground surface of the blade is concave. Used to create a fine cutting edge.
     
Kraton G Thermoplastic Elastomer -   Referred to simply as Kraton, is a man made material resembling rubber that can be molded into knife handles. Provides a non-slip grip.
     
Kydex -   A hard plastic material used for sheaths. Chemical, corrosion and impact resistant.
     
Lockback -   A folding knife that has a lock release on the back of the handle.
     
Micarta -   A man made material, made by layering resin and cloth. Used to make very fine knife handles. Westinghouse trademark.
     
Pakkawood -   A tough, resin impregnated wood used to make knife handles.
     
Powdered Metal -   A process used to make shaped metal pieces. Fine metal particles are molded under pressure and then fused under high heat. Also known as sintered metal.
     
Rockwell Hardness
(HRC) - 		  An industry scale used for measuring the hardness of blade steel. The higher the reading, the harder the steel. Written as HRC or RC followed by a range of numbers.
     
Sandvik 12C27 -   Stainless steel made in Sweden. Known as a premuim steel.
     
Side-Lock -   Also known as a linerlock. A locking mechanism that features a tab cut out of the liner which is used as a stop to lock the blade in an open position. To close, the liner tab is pushed back to its original position.
     
Tang -   Extension of the blade that runs through or between the handle pieces of a knife.
     
Zytel -   A glass-filled nylon material used in making handles for knives. DuPont trademark.