Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature870°C(1598°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature200°C(392°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles1x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
55 - 57 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness8.5/10
Edge Retention5.5/10
Corrosion Resistance1.5/10
Ease of Sharpening7.5/10
Overall Score23/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Chromium-vanadium spring steel - tougher than 5160
- 20.15% vanadium adds wear resistance vs plain 5160
- 3Standard for automotive coil springs
- 4Less common in knives than 5160 due to availability
- 5Excellent for large choppers needing extreme toughness
Famous Uses
Automotive springs
Heavy-duty choppers
Machetes
Best For
Large knives
Heavy-duty blades
Spring applications
Similar Steels
5160
Less vanadium, more popular
80CrV2
More carbon, harder
Not Recommended For
- Wet environments
- Thin edges
- Kitchen
Expert Tips
- 1Spring steel grade
- 2High strength
- 3Not stainless
- 4Good for big blades