Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1065°C(1949°F)
Soak Time30 minutes
Tempering
Temperature150°C(302°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
air
Target Hardness
60 - 61 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness6.5/10
Edge Retention7/10
Corrosion Resistance7/10
Ease of Sharpening6.5/10
Overall Score27/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Made famous by Bob Loveless who introduced it to knife industry
- 2Japanese Kobe Steel production
- 3RWL34 is named in tribute to Robert W. Loveless (RWL)
Famous Uses
Chris Reeve Sebenza (original 1987-2002)
Many 1990s premium knives
Best For
General purpose cutting
Folding knives
Kitchen knives
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Modern premium (outdated)
- Budget projects
Expert Tips
- 1Japanese equivalent to 154CM
- 2Molybdenum enhances machinability
- 3Good balance of properties