N690 , HARDENED Stainless Steel 59-61 HRC, 2.6x50x250 mm

N690, Hardened to 59-61 HRC (2.6 x 50 x 245-250 mm)

Already heat treated and ready to grind to shape. Stainless steel with great edge retention and corrosion resistance.

Note these are hardened already and do not need heat treatment:

• grind to shape
• do not overheat, dunk in water every couple of passes
• will be difficult or impossible to drill or work by hand tools

Stainless high-quality steel N690 or "N690Co for Cobolt" from German-Austrian maker Bohler Uddeholm. Complex heat treatment and great edge retention while easy to sharpen and polish.

N690 has better corrosion-resistance than for instance AEB-L due to higher chromium content, and somewhat better edge retention due to the higher carbon content. While AEB-L steel is much tougher than N690 and somewhat easier to sharpen.

Some photos how to use pre-hardened steel to make some great kitchen knives: LINK

More details of N690:

Martensitic chromium steel with cobalt, molybdenum and vanadium additions. For tools and components which can be hardened to very high hardness levels. By many compared to VG10 or "Austrian VG10" as a stainless with similar composition and edge retention, ease of polish and sharpening. Used by many commercial folding knife companies such as Spyderco and EnZo, it is considered by many to be easier to sharpen razor sharp than M390 while still having good edge retention. Corrosion resistance is high, with over 17% Chromium. 

C: 1.08%, Si: 0.40%, Mn: 0.40%, Cr: 17.30%, Mo: 1.10% , V: 0.1%, Co: 1.5%