Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1107°C(2025°F)
Soak Time17 minutes
Tempering
Temperature204°C(399°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
plate
Target Hardness
64 - 65 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness4/10
Edge Retention9.5/10
Corrosion Resistance2/10
Ease of Sharpening2/10
Overall Score17.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Bohler's statement: 'Our best tool steel for edge retention and toughness'
- 2European equivalent to CPM 10V (about 1% less vanadium)
- 39% vanadium for extreme wear resistance
- 42% cobalt for high-temperature strength
- 5Can reach 62-65 HRC
- 6Rare balance: extreme hardness with decent toughness
Famous Uses
Spyderco Police 4 Lightweight
Spyderco Urban Sprint Run
Spyderco MT17 Mule Team
Best For
High wear resistance cutting
Excellent edge retention
Cold work tooling
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Wet environments (rusts heavily)
- Field sharpening
- Beginner users
Expert Tips
- 1High carbon and vanadium = strong carbides
- 2Tungsten enhances wear resistance
- 3PM process improves homogeneity