Stainless Steel
Beginner Friendly
Budget

12C27M

Heat Treatment Specifications

Austenitizing

Temperature1070°C(1958°F)
Soak Time10 minutes

Tempering

Temperature175°C(347°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles1x

Quench Medium

oil

Target Hardness

57 - 58 HRC

Performance Characteristics

Toughness8.5/10
Edge Retention7/10
Corrosion Resistance8.5/10
Ease of Sharpening8/10
Overall Score32/40

Interesting Facts

  • 1Sandvik's most well-rounded knife steel
  • 2Originally designed for straight razors
  • 345+ years of continuous improvement
  • 456-58 HRC in Mora knives
  • 5Dishwasher safe corrosion resistance
  • 6Takes razor sharp edge - called 'razor blade steel'

Famous Uses

Mora Companion
Opinel stainless
Scandinavian bushcraft knives

Best For

Kitchen cutlery
General purpose knives
Scandinavian knives

Similar Steels

Not Recommended For

  • High loads
  • Premium knives
  • Extreme wear

Expert Tips

  • 1Takes very sharp edges
  • 2Maintains fine grain structure
  • 3High chromium provides stainless properties

Track Your 12C27M Heat Treats

Start logging your heat treatment cycles with 12C27M. Track what works, compare results, and repeat your best blades.

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