Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1060°C(1940°F)
Soak Time10 minutes
Tempering
Temperature150°C(302°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
59 - 60 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness5/10
Edge Retention5.5/10
Corrosion Resistance7.5/10
Ease of Sharpening6.5/10
Overall Score24.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Introduced by Bohler in 1998 as evolution of 440B
- 2In 1998, pilot melts sent to Austrian, Italian, German knifemakers
- 3Selected for French Army field knife to demanding specifications
- 4Popular for dive knives due to pitting resistance in salt water
- 5GiantMouse, Halfbreed Blades, Midgards Messer use it today
- 6Formula stable since 1998 - data sheets identical to 2025
Famous Uses
Extrema Ratio
Fox Knives
French Army field knife
LionSteel
Best For
Knife blades requiring corrosion resistance
General purpose cutting
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Extreme wear resistance
- Premium segment (mid-level)
- Heavy work
Expert Tips
- 1Good carbide former due to chromium and molybdenum
- 2Cobalt enhances attainable hardness