LC200N also known as Z-Finit or Cronidur 30, is a nitrogen-alloyed martensitic stainless steel produced through the specialized pressurized electroslag remelting (PESR) process.
On the other hand, H1 steel, recently retired by Spyderco and replaced by the updated H2 version, is an austenitic stainless steel work-hardened through cold rolling to form martensite.
PESR production method increases nitrogen content and refines the microstructure, resulting in excellent corrosion resistance, toughness, and good wear resistance from its fine distribution of carbides.
While lacking the carbide volume of LC200N, H1 steel unique composition provides unparalleled corrosion resistance, especially in saltwater environments.
The key difference between these two blade steels lies in their microstructures and hardness levels, with LC200N being a higher-hardness carbon/nitrogen-based martensitic steel and H1 being a work-hardened austenitic stainless steel.
This translates into LC200N offering better wear resistance and edge retention, while H1 excels in corrosion resistance and toughness, making each steel suitable for different knife applications.
LC200N vs H1 At A Glance
| Property | LC200N Steel | H1 Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion Resistance | Outstanding, virtually rust-proof. | Outstanding, virtually rust-proof. |
| Hardness | Max hardness around 60-62 HRC. | Reported hardness around 57-58 HRC. |
| Toughness | Very good toughness. | Slightly better toughness due to lower hardness. |
| Edge Retention | Better edge retention and wear resistance. | Modest edge retention and wear resistance. |
| Ease of Sharpening | Slightly challenging due to higher hardness. | Easier to sharpen due to lower hardness |
Corrosion Resistance
H1 and LC200N steels are stainless steels exhibiting exceptional corrosion resistance, ranking them the best in class for knife steels.
These two steels are essentially rust-proof, with the only other steel matching their corrosion resistance being Vanax stainless steel.
There is virtually no noticeable difference between H1 and LC200N blade steels in corrosion resistance.
LC200N demonstrates outstanding corrosion resistance due to the partial replacement of carbon with nitrogen during its specialized production process (pressurized electroslag remelting).
This results in improved pitting resistance and leaves more chromium in solution, enhancing its overall corrosion resistance.
In salt spray tests, LC200N showed no signs of rust spots, outperforming other corrosion-resistant stainless steels.
Similarly, H1 steel is specifically designed for superior corrosion resistance in saltwater and marine environments.
The lack of chromium carbides in H1 further enhances its corrosion resistance, as all the chromium remains in solution to contribute to its passivation ability.
LC200N can exhibit some minor pitting or corrosion spots when it comes in contact with other metal in the handle due to galvanic reactions with dissimilar metals.
For this reason I would recommend picking an LC200N knife with a handle made of materials other than metals, check out Spyderco WATERWAY™ knife as an example.
Hardness
LC200N is a nitrogen-alloyed martensitic stainless steel that achieves a maximum hardness of around 60-62 HRC.
The high nitrogen content, achieved through a specialized pressurized electroslag remelting process, contributes to its hardness.
On the other hand, H1 is an austenitic stainless steel that is work-hardened through cold rolling to form martensite, reaching a reported hardness of around 57-58 HRC in the blade spine.
However, there are conflicting reports about its hardness at the cutting edge, with some sources claiming hardness up to 65-68 HRC due to further work hardening during grinding or serration operations.
An analysis by Sandvik refuted the claim that H1 steel achieved a hardness of 65 HRC on the edge and showed that it was capable of achieving even lower hardness of 55HRC.
In terms of hardness, LC200N stainless steel can achieve a much higher hardness of 60-62HRC compared H1 steel at 55HRC.
Toughness
H1 steel can achieve slightly better toughness than LC200N steel due to its lower hardness level and typically low carbide volume.
LC200N also known as Cronidur 30 exhibits excellent toughness thanks to its fine, dispersion-strengthened microstructure with a low volume of carbides/nitrides.
The specialized production process (pressurized electroslag remelting) results in a very fine and evenly distributed carbide/nitride structure, contributing to LC200N superior toughness.
However, H-1 steel can slightly outperform LC200N in terms of toughness due to its even lower hardness of around 57-58 HRC and the lower carbides in its microstructure.
The presence of ductile delta-ferrite phases in H1 further enhances its toughness by introducing a softer, more deformable phase.
While both steels demonstrate good toughness overall, H1 steel lower hardness, and lower volume of carbides give it a slight advantage in terms of toughness i.e resistance to chipping or fracturing.
Edge Retention
LC200N has slightly better edge retention and wear resistance due to its higher achievable hardness and presence of a higher volume of carbides compared to H1 steel.
H1 stainless steel edge retention performance is highly similar to Japanese AUS-8 steel.
LC200N steel exhibits an advantage in edge retention and wear resistance over H1 steel.
With a maximum hardness of around 60-62 HRC and the presence of fine, dispersed carbides/nitrides, LC200N’s wear resistance and ability to maintain a keen edge is better than H1.
The higher achievable hardness and increased carbide/nitride volume of LC200N contribute to improved abrasion resistance and longer-lasting edges compared to H1.
H-1 edge retention and wear resistance are relatively modest, with performance reported to be similar to AUS-8 steel.
H1 lower hardness of around 57-58 HRC, coupled with lacking significant carbide formation, results in edges that dull more quickly under heavy use.
Ease of Sharpening
H1 steel is easier to sharpen and grind than LC200N due to its lower achievable hardness level and lower carbide volume.
While both LC200N and H1 are reported to exhibit good grindability and ease of sharpening relative to many other knife steels, H1 holds an advantage in this regard.
LC200N maximum hardness of around 60-62 HRC and the presence of fine carbides/nitrides can make it slightly more challenging to sharpen and grind compared to H1.
H1 lower hardness of around 57-58 HRC, coupled with its austenitic stainless steel composition and near-absence of carbides, contributes to superior grindability and ease of sharpening.
The lack of hard carbide particles in H1 reduces the abrasiveness of the steel, making it more forgiving during sharpening and less prone to causing excessive wear on abrasives.
Final Thoughts on LC200N vs H1
From my testing, I have found that both LC200N and H1 exhibit exceptional corrosion resistance, ranking among the best knife steels I’ve used in this regard.
They are essentially rust-proof, and I can attest to their ability to withstand prolonged exposure to harsh saltwater conditions without any visible signs of corrosion.
In terms of edge retention and wear resistance, I have found that LC200N has an advantage over H1 steel due to its higher achievable hardness.
Regarding toughness, my observations suggest that H1 steel can slightly outperform LC200N due to its lower hardness level and the near-absence of carbides.
Note that Spyderco recently replaced H1 steel with H2 steel with a different composition and manufacturer.