Anyone have info on 20CV steel?

H

HighTen

Joined
Aug 28, 2004
Messages
139
I was reading an article in the October issue of Blade magazine and it said that this new knife had a blade made of 20CV steel which "retains its sharpness 35% longer than CPM S30V."

Is this a new steel or has it been around a while? Is it good? Learning about and experiencing different steels is something I like to do a lot so any info is appreciated. Thanks.
 
I have an L.C.C. with this steel, it(to me) seems to keep a edge as long as S30V, or D2 but its easier to sharpen(reprofile). Like S30V all I really have to do is strop it and it gets scary sharp. :thumbup:
 
my experience mirrors samhain73. i also have a MT LCC D/A in 20CV and it is my user. it keeps an edge as long as my S30V blades but is easier to sharpen up than my S30V blades.
 
20CV is great steel. Marginally less edge holding than S30V (comparing Microtech's 20CV LCC to a Scarab), but sharpens easier. I'm not sure which I actually prefer, but I have no complaints about either.

I've only ever seen Microtech use it.
 
Here is a PDF spec sheet on DuraTech 20CV.

http://timpkin.com/products/specialtysteel/engineering/tech_info/PDF_Files/air_melt/ColdWorkToolSteels/DuraTech%2020CV.pdf#search='duratech%2020cv'

Just highlight and copy to your address box.
 
Thanks for the info and link! I hope other brands use it so I can try some and add it to my steel vocabulary! Microtech is just a out of my budget right now.
 
as memtioned sog offers this option in the team leader.i've got one ordered & will post my edge tests as soon as i get enough 275 burst strength cardboard.if you need the compo. here are the main players.
c 1.9
cr 20.00
mo 1.0 & tung .6
van. 4.0.
looks pretty good.
 
hinderers use 20CV, i like it's performance, does anyone know how it compares to S30v for toughness??
 
M390PM seems to be the same steel from a different manufacturer. Both Kershaw and Benchmade will be releasing knives using this version in the future.

I have it in a SOG team leader but haven't used it in any real hard fashion yet. It takes a nice edge for a steel with so much Chrome ( 20%), but so does ZDP. The wonders of PM technology.
 
my data shows390 to have these comps.below nothing like duratech.
c-1.64
cr- 4.1
cob -8.o
mob-2.0
tung-10.4
van-4.8
if the cobalt offsets the brittleness of tung should cut forever however as mentioned before the charts do'nt always tranfer to performance in real life.
 
my apology to mastiff, on my data i confused s390 with m390. both are Bohler Uddeholm alloys but the comps are very different. i agree with mastiff that duratech & m390 are fairly close in makeup.if one checks out s390 it has only 4.o cr, however it has a fantastic amount of cob., tung., & van. if the cobalt offsets the brittleness of the tung. this stuff should cut forever, but once more the charts don't always transfer to real perm.
 
Latrobe's 20CV is the same as Bohler M390 and Carpenter CTS-204P. I believe M390 is the original. Latrobe doesn't have their own PM plant, so someone else makes it for them. Who can guess which one?
 
I have a SOG Team leader in 20CV and have been really impressed with it.
I haven't bayoneted anything with it or used it as a lever on anything hard either.
The blade tip profile seemed pretty thin so I've refrained from abuse.
Just cardboard, feed sacks, and whatnot and it's held up very well.

Dressing, boning/butchering two wet deer this year went smoothly though...never had to resharpen it.
I like mine a lot.
 
tomdogma said:
hinderers use 20CV, i like it's performance, does anyone know how it compares to S30v for toughness??
Click to expand...

according to Rick its tougher than S30V, sharpens easier but hold its edge about as long, its seems to me though that it takes a keener edge than S30V too.

I love this steel in my XM! To me it is THE steel.

Easy to work with, great edge retention, super tough, easy to sharpen, and highly rust/corrosion resistant.
 
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