Steels

KO13: A basic one among stainless steels. As it’s easy to get, mostly kitchen knives and pocket knives are made from it. Its hardness is usually 55-56 HRC, with good flexibility.
Böhler N695 (440C): simple and widely used steel, suitable for hunter knives if its hardened up to 58-59 HRC. Stays sharp for 3-4 uses and it’s easy to sharpen with steel, stone or sine sandpaper, even if you are out hunting.
Böhler N690: Alloyed with vanadium and cobalt it’s a bit better than the 440C; harder, stays sharp for a longer time and also stainless. It makes a more valuable knife.
Böhler K110 (D2): Chromium-vanadium-molybdenum alloyed tool steel. The 12% chromium makes it 80% stainless, the better its polished the less rust you get. Very tough steel with hardness of 60-61 HRC. If you want a bit long-wearing knife don’t hesitate to get this steel. Stays sharp but it’s less easy to sharpen.
VANADIS-10: Very sturdy powder metallurgy steel – 62-63 HRC. Although it is highly resistant against wear and keeps its sharpness for a very long time, it doesn’t take hammering well and is not stainless. You can skin and gut about 10-15 game without any sharpening. It is so tough you can sharpen the sharpener steel with it (not the knife). For sharpening you must take it to a professional. This expensive steel makes high value knives.
ATS-34: It is said to be the most versatile steel. Its powder steel version is the the RWL-34. Retains sharpness longer than the 440C while can still be easily sharpened. The major drawback is their price.
RWL-34: Alloy of chromium- molybdenum-vanadium, stainless, powder metallurgy steel. I don’t see differences between ELMAX and RWL-34, everyone has their own favourite.
ELMAX: A powder metallurgy tool steel produced by the Swedish Uddeholm works. Alloy of chromium- molybdenum-vanadium with 60-61 HRC; so you will need a ceramic sharpener. I use it for high value knives.
Spring steel: This is not a stainless steel. Its advantage lies firstly in its price secondly in the price of the knives made of it. With a simple wooden grip it makes a great working knife. The blade is usually gun-blued, it is the same colour as a gun barrel. A hunter who cleans and oils their gun after hunting will get used to it. Surprisingly sharp and can be sharpened easily.
Damascus steels: can be made of either non-stainless carbon steels or stainless steels. The latter cost four times more; these make the most valuable knives. All knives are very unique and are recommended to be on display rather than used.