Can cold rolled steel be used to make knives?
Knives are usually made not from cold rolled steel, but rather from the more common high carbon steel or stainless steel. Although cold-rolled steel has good plasticity and formability, its carbon content is low, usually between 0.05% and 0.25%, so its hardness and wear resistance are low, making it less suitable for making knives.
In contrast, high carbon steel contains a higher carbon content, usually between 0.6% and 1.0%, and therefore has better hardness and wear resistance, making it ideal for making knives. Common high carbon steels such as 1080, 1095, etc. can achieve ideal hardness and edge retention after heat treatment.
In addition, stainless steel is also one of the materials commonly used to make knives. Stainless steel is resistant to rust and can maintain the condition of knives in humid environments. It also has good hardness and wear resistance. Common stainless steels such as 440C, AUS-8, etc. are widely used in making kitchen knives, outdoor knives, etc.
Therefore, while cold-rolled steel is widely used in some specific applications, it is generally not the material of choice for making knives.