A2 Tool Steel

The traditional convex-ground bushcraft steel. Tough, easy to sharpen, rusts if neglected.

Typical hardness

58-60 HRC

Edge retention

2/5

Toughness

4/5

Corrosion resistance

2/5

Ease of sharpening

4/5

1-5 is a relative ranking drawn from published composition and hardness, not a lab measurement. Higher is better on every axis, and no steel is a 5 across the board — edge retention and toughness pull against each other.