Steel 1095 is particularly popular in the knife-making industry and it can be said that 1095 is a favored standard for most knife makers. This steel has excellent properties, namely that it holds an edge well, can be sharpened beautifully, and its acquisition costs are not high.
Classic 1095 steel tends to corrode. Therefore, this steel usually undergoes a surface treatment that prevents corrosion. In the case of 1095 Cro-Van, this means that a chrome-vanadium surface treatment has been applied. Steel modified in this way does not corrode, is hard and durable, sharpens well, and holds an edge perfectly.
This steel and its surface modification can be found in almost all kinds of tools used for cutting or slicing. It is most often hardened to values of 56 - 60 HRC, which is the hardness of higher-quality knives.