Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1066°C(1951°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature204°C(399°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
plate
Target Hardness
63 - 65 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness4.5/10
Edge Retention6/10
Corrosion Resistance5.5/10
Ease of Sharpening5.5/10
Overall Score21.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Originally patented as 440XH in 1994
- 2Carpenter introduced as CTS-XHP in October 2009
- 3Described as 'stainless D2' - bridge between classic stainless and super steels
- 4Can reach 60-64 HRC while resisting corrosion like 440C
- 58 Spyderco models used CTS-XHP in 2016 lineup
- 6Cold Steel moved away due to availability issues
Famous Uses
Spyderco Domino/Dice/Chaparral
Hinderer XM series
Slysz Bowie
Best For
Folding knives
Premium cutting tools
High hardness with corrosion resistance
Similar Steels
D2
CTS-XHP is harder and cleaner
CPM S30V
Crucible competitor
Not Recommended For
- Extreme toughness
- Field sharpening
Expert Tips
- 1Exceptional hardness levels while stainless
- 2Modern Metal Making technology
- 3Suitable for demanding cutting applications