Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1120°C(2048°F)
Soak Time18 minutes
Tempering
Temperature177°C(351°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
plate
Target Hardness
62 - 64 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness9/10
Edge Retention4/10
Corrosion Resistance3.5/10
Ease of Sharpening7/10
Overall Score23.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Crucible's toughest PM steel - exceeds even 3V
- 20.55% carbon only - prioritizes toughness over hardness
- 3Designed for maximum impact resistance
- 4Popular with forgers - can be forged unlike most PM steels
- 5Excellent for machetes, choppers, hard-use knives
- 6Lower wear resistance trade-off for supreme toughness
Famous Uses
Custom forged knives
Bladesmithing
Tough working knives
Best For
Heavy-duty knives
Tool and die work
Impact applications
Similar Steels
CPM 3V
Even tougher
A2
Cheaper, similar class
Not Recommended For
- Corrosive environments
- Maximum wear
- Budget
Expert Tips
- 1Die steel repurposed for knives
- 2CPM 3V recommended instead
- 3Good toughness
- 4PM technology