Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1175°C(2147°F)
Soak Time20 minutes
Tempering
Temperature290°C(554°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
plate
Target Hardness
63 - 65 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness2.5/10
Edge Retention10/10
Corrosion Resistance7/10
Ease of Sharpening2/10
Overall Score21.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Developed 2004 by Crucible
- 2Originally for dental industry
- 312% vanadium - highest in production knife steels
- 4Requires diamond stones to sharpen
Famous Uses
Custom hunting knives
Best For
Custom hunting knives
Maximum edge retention
Slicing applications
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Sharpening without diamonds
- Impact loads
- Common sense
Expert Tips
- 1Requires diamond stones
- 2Coarse edges (400-1000 grit) perform best
- 3Not for sharpening novices
- 4Brittle - careful with impact