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    • Sandvik 14C28N

    14C28N Knives — Kershaw & Benchmade in Sandvik's Nitrogen-Enhanced Budget-to-Mid Blade Steel at Knifeworks

    14C28N Knives: Sandvik's Nitrogen-Enhanced Steel That Sets the Standard at Its Price Point

    14C28N is a stainless blade steel developed and produced by Sandvik in Sweden, released specifically for the knife industry in 2009. It is an evolution of Sandvik's 13C26 alloy — a steel long favored by Kershaw and other KAI brands — with nitrogen added to improve corrosion resistance, edge retention, and overall performance at the same production cost. The result is a steel that consistently outperforms AUS-8, 8Cr13MoV, and most other budget-to-mid stainless steels in real-world cutting and corrosion testing.

    At Knifeworks, you are buying from an authorized dealer: every 14C28N knife on this page ships with full manufacturer warranty coverage — Kershaw's limited lifetime warranty and Benchmade LifeSharp (free lifetime sharpening and mechanical repair). No gray-market sourcing, no voided warranties.

    14C28N is the steel found across the majority of Kershaw's production lineup — SpeedSafe assisted folders, flipper tabs, and liner lock workhorses that deliver real performance at accessible price points. Its combination of easy sharpenability, good corrosion resistance, adequate toughness, and responsive heat treat makes it the default choice for high-volume production knives where value per dollar matters as much as absolute performance.

    Why 14C28N outperforms most steels at its price pointSandvik designed 14C28N specifically for knife blades, not as an adapted industrial or tool steel. The nitrogen addition improves corrosion resistance by keeping chromium free in the matrix and allows the steel to respond well to heat treat across a wider hardness range — typically 58–62 HRC depending on the maker. Most production knives at this price tier use Chinese stainless steels like 8Cr13MoV or AUS-8; 14C28N is a purpose-built blade steel from one of the world's leading specialty steel producers, and it shows in performance.

    Call 888-225-9775 — our team can help you choose the right 14C28N model.

    Steel type
    Stainless
    Produced by
    Sandvik (Sweden)
    Typical hardness
    58–62 HRC
    Key addition
    Nitrogen
    Corrosion resist.
    Very Good
    Upgrade from
    13C26
    Compare Selected

    14C28N Steel: Frequently Asked Questions

    What is 14C28N steel and who makes it?＋

    14C28N is a stainless blade steel produced by Sandvik in Sandviken, Sweden. Sandvik is one of the world's leading specialty steel producers, and 14C28N was developed specifically for the knife industry — not adapted from an industrial or tooling application. It is an evolution of Sandvik's earlier 13C26 alloy, with nitrogen added to the composition to improve corrosion resistance and edge performance.

    Typical composition: approximately 0.62% carbon, 14% chromium, 0.11% nitrogen, 0.6% manganese, and 0.6% silicon. The "N" in the name designates the nitrogen addition. Run at 58–62 HRC in most production knives, with Kershaw typically targeting 58–61 HRC across their lineup.

    How does 14C28N compare to AUS-8?＋

    14C28N outperforms AUS-8 on corrosion resistance and responds more consistently to heat treat across production runs. AUS-8 is a Japanese stainless steel with a similar composition profile — roughly comparable carbon and chromium content — but the nitrogen in 14C28N keeps more chromium free in the matrix for corrosion protection and allows the steel to reach slightly higher hardness with good toughness.

    In practical cutting performance, both steels are comparable at their typical production hardness. 14C28N sharpens easily on the same ceramic rods and diamond cards that handle AUS-8 well. For buyers choosing between two knives at the same price point, 14C28N is the better steel specification.

    How does 14C28N compare to CPM-S35VN?＋

    CPM-S35VN is a meaningfully better steel than 14C28N across all performance metrics. It holds an edge significantly longer, handles higher hardness with better toughness, and is produced via powder metallurgy for a finer, more uniform carbide structure. The gap between the two steels is real and consistent in testing.

    The practical comparison is price: CPM-S35VN knives typically cost 50–100% more than comparable 14C28N models. 14C28N delivers solid everyday performance in an accessible production knife, and for buyers who sharpen regularly or use a knife hard in ways they expect to dull it, the price difference versus CPM-S35VN may not be worth it. For buyers who want the best edge life and sharpening experience, CPM-S35VN is the clear step up.

    Is 14C28N a good steel for everyday carry?＋

    Yes — 14C28N is one of the best steels available in the budget-to-mid production knife range. It resists corrosion well in everyday carry conditions including sweat, humidity, and light food prep. It sharpens quickly on basic tools. It is tough enough for typical EDC tasks. For a knife used primarily for package opening, food prep, and light utility work, 14C28N performs well and requires minimal maintenance.

    Where 14C28N shows its limits is under extended hard cutting tasks — it dulls faster than CPM-S35VN or CPM MagnaCut under equivalent use. For casual or moderate EDC, that is a non-issue: the steel stays sharp long enough between touch-ups for most users.

    Is 14C28N easy to sharpen?＋

    14C28N is one of the easiest blade steels to sharpen. Its relatively simple stainless composition responds quickly to ceramic rods, diamond cards, whetstones, and even basic pull-through sharpeners. Most users can bring a dull 14C28N blade back to a working edge in a few minutes with minimal equipment. It also responds well to stropping for quick field touch-ups between sharpenings.

    The ease of sharpening is one of the reasons Kershaw and other KAI brands built so much of their production around 14C28N. A knife that is easy to maintain is a knife that stays sharp in the hands of buyers who do not sharpen obsessively.

    Does 14C28N rust easily?＋

    14C28N has very good corrosion resistance for its price tier — better than AUS-8 and 8Cr13MoV, and better than many budget stainless steels used in production knives. The nitrogen addition keeps more of the 14% chromium free in the matrix rather than tied up in carbides, which is the same mechanism that makes higher-end steels like CPM-S45VN corrosion-resistant.

    In everyday carry conditions — sweat, humidity, kitchen use, light outdoor exposure — 14C28N will not rust or stain. Wipe the blade after extended saltwater or acidic food contact and the steel will stay clean with minimal effort.

    What brands use 14C28N steel?＋

    Kershaw is by far the largest user of 14C28N, deploying it across the majority of their production folder lineup. Benchmade uses it in select entry-level and value-tier models. Knifeworks carries authorized stock from both brands with full manufacturer warranty coverage.

    BrandNotable 14C28N ModelsWarranty
    KershawBlur, Leek, Cryo, Skyline, LinkKershaw limited lifetime warranty
    BenchmadeSelect entry-level production modelsLifeSharp — free lifetime sharpening & repair
    Which 14C28N knife should I buy at Knifeworks?＋

    For the best everyday value in 14C28N, the Kershaw Blur is the flagship — SpeedSafe assisted opening, Sandvik 14C28N blade, aluminum handle, and Kershaw's limited lifetime warranty at a price well under $100. The Kershaw Leek is the choice for a thinner, more pocket-friendly profile with a straight-back blade ideal for precision tasks. The Kershaw Cryo gives you a titanium carbo-nitride-coated blade and framelock in 14C28N at an entry-level price.

    If you are deciding between a 14C28N knife and a CPM-S35VN knife and budget is flexible, CPM-S35VN delivers meaningfully better edge retention. If you want the best performance at a value price point, 14C28N in a Kershaw is the right answer. Call 888-225-9775 and our team can help you find the right model.

    14C28N vs. comparable blade steels

    SteelToughnessEdge RetentionCorrosion ResistanceSharpenability
    14C28N ★HighModerateVery goodVery easy
    AUS-8HighModerateGoodVery easy
    154CMMod–HighModerateAbove avgVery easy
    VG-10ModerateModerateHighEasy
    CPM-S35VNHighMod–HighHighEasy
    D2ModerateHighLow–avgDifficult
    Where 14C28N wins: corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening at its price tier14C28N is the best-specified stainless steel in the budget-to-mid production range. It beats AUS-8 and 8Cr13MoV on corrosion resistance, sharpens faster than every steel above it on this list, and is produced by a specialist steel maker rather than a commodity rolling mill. For buyers who want a capable everyday knife without premium steel pricing, 14C28N is the specification to look for.
    ⚔
    Kershaw & BenchmadeAuthorized 14C28N catalog across Kershaw's full SpeedSafe and flipper lineup and select Benchmade production models.
    Authorized Dealer — Full Warranty CoverageKershaw limited lifetime warranty on every knife. Benchmade LifeSharp: free lifetime sharpening and mechanical repair where applicable.
    14C28N vs. CPM-S35VNDeciding whether to step up in steel? Call 888-225-9775 — our team can tell you whether the price difference is worth it for your use case.
    Same or Next Business Day ShippingShips from Columbia, Louisiana. Order by 2 PM CT and your 14C28N knife is on its way today.