Anyone have their CRK heat treated to a higher hardness?

[mycough]

Seems like a lot of people knock the soft s30v that CRK uses. Just wondering if anyone has sent their blade out and what they thought of the result. Russ

 

[BBQ BOY]

Better to be soft and to roll the edge than to be too hard and brittle to only chip it.

 

[giant1]

There seems to be a school of thought out there that CRK S30V is already hardened to an RC which is a little high, not sure you would need the blade any harder.

Not that I have any problems with my sebbie, it has a nice polished edge which is shaving sharp. I just maintain it with regular light strops and a sharpen when I think it needs it.

Why are you asking, curiosity or do you have a specific job in mind?

 

[Mike V]

Why aren't the blades machined and ground before being heat treated?

That way you could have the soft steel to get them made fast like the factory wants and then be made very hard like the client wants?

 

[JoHnYKwSt]

According to Chris Reeve, the blades are not heat treated softer in order to facilitate easier manufacture. While I don't completely agree with Chris' reasons for heat treating S30V at 58-59RC (I would prefer 59-60RC), I do believe him when he says he says that he does not do it because it makes manufacturing easier. And I believe the majority of the blade is made before the heat treat process.