Carpenter / USA

CTS BD1N

Nitrogen-Enriched Stainless Steel58–61 HRCConventional Ingot Steel Process

Composition

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

Material Overview

CTS-BD1N is a modified version of CTS-BD1 developed by Carpenter Technology Corporation, enhanced with nitrogen to improve corrosion resistance and edge stability. It maintains a fine grain structure, allowing for easy sharpening and consistent cutting performance. While not as wear-resistant as premium powder metallurgy steels, CTS-BD1N offers a very practical balance of affordability, corrosion resistance, and usability, making it popular in entry-to-mid-level knife production.

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

9.0

Sharpenability

8.0

Advantages

Improved corrosion resistance over CTS-BD1
Easy to sharpen and maintain
Good toughness for everyday use
Fine grain structure for clean edges
Cost-effective stainless steel option

Disadvantages

Lower edge retention than premium PM steels
Moderate wear resistance
Not suited for heavy-duty or extreme cutting tasks

At A Glance

CTS-BD1N is an upgraded nitrogen-enhanced version of BD1, offering improved corrosion resistance, better edge stability, and easy sharpening, making it a strong budget-friendly stainless steel option.