Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1121°C(2050°F)
Soak Time20 minutes
Tempering
Temperature204°C(399°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
plate
Target Hardness
61 - 62 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness6.5/10
Edge Retention5.5/10
Corrosion Resistance8.5/10
Ease of Sharpening6/10
Overall Score26.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Spyderco-exclusive steel developed with Crucible (2020)
- 2'SPY' = Spyderco, '27' = atomic number of cobalt
- 3Designed as USA-made improved VG-10
- 4Sal Glesser had direct input into alloy composition
- 5Over a year of R&D with Crucible metallurgists
- 61% niobium for enhanced toughness vs S35VN
Famous Uses
Spyderco Para 3 LW
Spyderco Endura 4
Spyderco Native 5 LW
Best For
Folding knives
Light-use tactical knives
Outdoor cutting
Corrosion-prone environments
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Extreme wear
- Heavy work
- Budget
Expert Tips
- 1Max hardness ~64 HRC
- 2Production at 60-62 HRC
- 3Cobalt enhances red-hardness