Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1060°C(1940°F)
Soak Time30 minutes
Tempering
Temperature205°C(401°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
58 - 59 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness5.5/10
Edge Retention6/10
Corrosion Resistance7.5/10
Ease of Sharpening6.5/10
Overall Score25.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Carpenter's budget powder metallurgy steel
- 2Similar to 440C but PM processed
- 3Better uniformity than conventional 440C
- 4Spyderco used in budget-friendly models
- 5Good balance of corrosion resistance and edge retention
- 6Entry point to PM steels
Famous Uses
Spyderco Delica/Endura variants
Budget production knives
Best For
General-purpose cutting
Kitchen knives
Wet environments
Similar Steels
154CM
Similar class, more known
CTS-XHP
Harder, better wear
Not Recommended For
- Extreme wear
- Heavy work
Expert Tips
- 1440C-based composition
- 2Good corrosion resistance
- 3Balanced properties
- 4Ingot manufacturing