The invention relates to an nickel-poor austenitic steel containing iron and the following components: manganese: less than 9.0% by weight; chrome: less than 16 and a maximum of 22% by weight; nitrogen: more than 0.30 and a maximum of 0.70% by weight; carbon: more than 0.08 and a maximum of 0.30% by weight and silicon: less than 2.0% by weight. The invention also relates to the production and utilization of said steel.