Carpenter / USA

CTS BD1

Stainless Steel58–60 HRCConventional Ingot Steel Process

Composition

Core alloying elements define the baseline trade-off between wear resistance, corrosion behavior, and toughness.

Material Overview

CTS-BD1 is a stainless steel developed by Carpenter Technology Corporation for knife and cutting tool applications. It is designed to provide a practical balance between edge retention, corrosion resistance, toughness, and ease of maintenance. Compared to premium powder metallurgy steels, CTS-BD1 is more affordable and easier to sharpen while still offering dependable everyday cutting performance. It is widely used in production folding knives and utility blades.

Performance Radar

Use four core metrics to understand the usable operating envelope of this steel at a glance.

Edge Retention

Toughness

Corrosion Resistance

Sharpenability

Edge Retention

7.0

Toughness

8.0

Corrosion Resistance

8.0

Sharpenability

8.0

Advantages

Good corrosion resistance
Easy to sharpen and maintain
Balanced toughness and hardness
Affordable and practical for daily use
Fine grain structure supports clean edges

Disadvantages

Edge retention lower than premium PM steels
Moderate wear resistance
Not optimized for extreme hard-use applications

At A Glance

CTS-BD1 is a balanced stainless steel offering good corrosion resistance, solid toughness, and easy sharpening, making it a reliable choice for everyday carry and utility knives.