The paper deals with the problems of austenitic chrome-nickel steels and their behavior in plastic deformation processes. These steels cannot be hardened by thermal processes due to a stable austenitic structure, therefore the increase of strength is achieved only by cold forming. The deformation mechanisms of the slip or twinning are activated by the effect of the forming force in the steel. Mainly, there is formed deformation-induced martensite whose structure is different from the martensite created by the heat treatment. As the intensive hardening of austenitic chrome-nickel steels under the effect of plastic deformation is beneficial, it adversely affects the machining of these materials.