a cutting tool and a method for the production of cutting tools for metalworking characterized in that the holder body of the tool first is submitted to a surface hardening that results in the formation of compressive stresses in the surface and then submitted to a surface treatment that gives additional contribution of compressive stresses in the surface . in this way , it is allowed to , on one hand , be able to modify / machine or remove parts of or the entire phase - transition layer obtained in the surface hardening at the same time as additional compressive stresses are built up in the surface of a hardened steel material in the tool body .