Abstract: A hardenable chromium-nickel steel, comprising 0.005 to 0.12% carbon, 9 to 17% chromium, 5 to 12% nickel, at most 3% cobalt, 0.5 to 4% molybdenum, 0.25 to 1.0% silicon, 0.5% to 3.0% manganese, 1 to 3% titanium, 0.25 to 1% vanadium, 0.05 to 0.5% niobium, 0.001 to 0.30% nitrogen, at most 0.5% tantalum, 0.001 to 0.030% sulfur, 0.2 to 2.0% copper, at most 0.5% tungsten, at most 1.5% aluminum, 0.0001 to 0.01% boron, and at most 0.035% phosphorus, remainder iron including impurities resulting from smelting, is suitable in particular as a material for producing wire by drawing in the 3-phase region of ?-martensite, ?-martensite, and austenite, in conjunction with a heat treatment. The wire can be used for components for instrument construction, surgical needles, valve pins, and dental braces.