12c27?

B

Buck268

Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
1,864
Hey, I've been searching around (and lemme tell you, its hard now a days!) to figure out what steel it used by Victorinox. Talk about a lot of results! Doesn't matter which query you try its still an ocean to wade through.

Anyhow, just hoping to fact check. It seems sanvik comes up alot, particularly 12C27. Also seen mention of ALOX, but I don't believe thats actually a type of steel; or is it? Can anybody confirm this info? Reason I ask is I'm starting a (rather pointless) index of my "kit" as the british would call it (knives, lights, that sorta stuff) and I want to be able to sort the knives by brand, model, steel and whatever other columns I decide to include. Thanks! :thumbup:
 
"ALOX" is another word for aluminum, at least in this case. They use it for scales instead of the traditional red plastic on some models.

Not sure exactly what sort of stainless they use. I'm sure someone who knows will be along shortly.
 
You probably meant "INOX" (basically, meaning "stainless), which is commonly used to descibe Victorinox steel. "ALOX" (ALuminum OXide) is the name for the aluminum handles on the Victorinox knives.

Victorinox steel is said to be similar in properties to 12C27. According to Victorinox (2008 Salesman's Brochure), their composition is:
C 0.48-0.60
Cr 13-15
Mo 0.50-0.80
V 0.15
 
This information has been knocking around the forums for a while, the steel the use is kind of proprietary and no one else uses it....that is what I am able to tell you:

For both blades we use chrome molydenum stainless steel with 0.52% carbon, 15% chromium, 0.5% molydenum, 0.45% manganese and 0.6% silicium. After a sophisticated hardening process at 1040°C and an annealing temperature of 160°C the blades achieve a hardness of RC 56.

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The woodsaw, scissors and nail files have a hardness of RC 53, the screwdriver, tin opener and awl a hardness of RC 52, and the corkscrew and springs RC 49.

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The metal saw and file, in addition to the special case hardening, are also subjected to a hard chromium plating process so that iron and steel can also be filed und cut.

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The separators have been made from aluminium alloy since 1951. This makes the knife lighter and easier to carry in one's pocket. Formerly these separating layers were made of nickel-silver.

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The rivets are made of brass and the outer casing of cellidor, made in the USA.

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The spring exerts a pressure of 12 kilograms on the large blade and 8 kilograms on the small blade. The combined 20 kilograms exert pressure on the corkscrew. With two springs and six pressure locations a total of 70 kilograms pressure is achieved. To close the blades high pressure is necessary since the ratio of the pressure points between the axis and the thumbnail recess is 1 to 20. In the case of the "SwissChamp" model with 8 springs and 24 pressure points a total of 300 kilograms (660 lb) is achieved.
 
On paper, I agree, but one cannot argue with results.


And Victorinox DEFINATELY gets results.
 
Buck268 said:
On paper, I agree, but one cannot argue with results.


And Victorinox DEFINATELY gets results.
Click to expand...
Yeah, what Buck said - most SAK users don't care about the hardness numbers, we just use our SAKs daily, and they do what we need them to do, and last for decades!
 
A friend of mine bought an ALOX sak about 3 weeks and he loves it! The other day he accidentally dropped in on the concrete, and it mashed in a pretty good chunk of it. He said he loves the way the knife and all still works, but its just a big eye sore to look at.
 
While there is always talk about the alox knives being indestructible and bulletproof, they are made of aluminum, I believe, and subject to all sorts of dents, dings, and "mashes". While the alox knives do FEEL hardy and solid, and while they are solid in function, they definitely are NOT bullet proof. I've seen delrin handles take a bigger bump then alox and not show it. Not that I don't like them. I carry a Wenger SI myself. Just an observation is all.
 
yeah, delrin is what was on alot of the schrade USA old timer knives. My uncle still carries his, which he has for over 30 years. He used to be a construction worked, and accidentally dropped in from 30 stories up on a building they were constructing and the only thing that happened to it was the top bolster got slightly boogered up and that was all. Luckily the blade was closed and it landed in stones and not the concrete or it may have been different.
 
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