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Böhler N690 knife steel

Böhler N690 is a stainless knife steel, typically hardened to HRC 58-61.

TypeStainless
HardnessHRC 58-61
Edge retentionhighhigher than 19 of 48, tied with 17
Corrosion resistancehighhigher than 22 of 48, tied with 16
Toughnessmediumhigher than 4 of 48, tied with 20
Ease of sharpeningmoderate to sharpeneasier to sharpen than 20 of 48, tied with 14
Price tierMid
Best forEDC / foldersKitchenOutdoor / bushcraft

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Knives in Böhler N690

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Last verified 2026-06-11 · properties are documented consensus tiers; real performance depends on heat treat & geometry (methodology)

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