Over the last 10 years there has been a sharp increase in the use of more abrasive work materials such as ductile irons, powder metallurgical materials, high silicon aluminum alloys, and harder superalloys. As a result, cutting tools must have increased wear resistance, with no loss in toughness, to machine them. Suitable tooling materials have been developed in anticipation of the widespread use of these abrasive materials and include MTCVD coatings, improved cermets, improved CBN tool materials and more sophisticated cutting geometries. The characteristics of these tooling materials are discussed. Thoughts on future cutting tool materials are presented.