Becker/Kabar 1095 Cro Van - top performing steel bargain?

R

RX-79G

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While Cold Steel marketed that hell out of it as Carbon V, 50100B/0170-6/1095CV is actually a very, very good steel. It contains vanadium, chrome and nickel that build toughness and edge holding over basic 1095. When compared to other higher end carbon steels, it has more chrome than O1, and neither O1 nor 52100 has vanadium, and it has more than W2. The nickel is actually rare among all the hypereutectoid steels, and it is the reason 15N20 and L6 are so tough. The closest steel to it is really Cru Forge V, not simple 1095.

Considering what folks are willing to pay for O1, A2 and 52100 blades - $65 for a BK16 as a bushcraft knife is a clear bargain.

I really think 50100B is a great steel, and the little bit I was able to score after the Camillus auction will be used as san mai cores in very special blades.


I'm really shocked Kabar and Becker don't market this really nice steel more vigorously. It really is nice stuff, and if forgers could get it, you would see a lot of it in high end blades and as the main ingredient in damascus.

There was a time when this steel was more common, but with Camillus and Sharon steel gone, Kabar and maybe Case seem to be the only ones with a supply.
 
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My 11 seems to resist discoloration a bit more than my Izula. I always figured this was why.

And I also wondered why they don't market it more.
 
I have a few stripped beckers and rust is rarely an issue... The steel is awesome.. Takes a great edge.. Holds it a long time... Easy to sharpen... Really not much else to ask for. As for the price, if they asked double I'd still buy multiples of them
 
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Yep. Whenever it comes up, I usually point out that 1095CV is closer to O1 than plain 1095. If I could, I'd get my smaller Beckers at 59Rc.
 
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RX-79G said:
I'm really shocked Kabar and Becker don't market this really nice steel more vigorously. It really is nice stuff, and if forgers could get it, you would see a lot of it in high end blades and as the main ingredient in damascus.
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I agree on both points. As Daizee mentioned, I'd also like to see Ka-Bar run it a little harder, like 58 or even 60Rc... but that's unlikely for various reasons.
 
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You have to spend so much more money and all you get is some corrosion resistance and a marginal increase in performance .......

I Love the Cro-Van a lot......... It is toothy too.......Woot, Woot...

E
 
Ethan Becker said:
You have to spend so much more money and all you get is some corrosion resistance and a marginal increase in performance .......

I Love the Cro-Van a lot......... It is toothy too.......Woot, Woot...

E
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Hello, Mr. Becker!

Do you think cro van is comparable to O1 or 52100?
 
Hey RX-79G.........

I have relatively little experience with blades in O-1 and therefore do not want to venture an opinion....... The blades I have owned in 52 100 have been great blades that performed, in some cases, superbly........ All I am saying about 1095CROVAN is that, when properly heat treated, it is really hard to beat it's combination of edge retention, toughness, cutting aggressiveness and ease of sharpening......... I always want a "three day edge" ie. can you count on the edge to perform well through three days of cutting tasks in an"average" field or survival situation........ Of course, the icing on this cake is that it does not cost a couple of body parts per pound........ If you want "real" edge retention try stellite or Talonite but, you are looking at well over a hundred bucks a pound......

I really believe that the most important part of the equation is not so much in steel selection but in proper heat treat protocols....... I love A2 for it's scary aggressive edges and 52-100 is just fine, thank you very much and if ya gotta go stainless D2 and S30V will get the job done but, I am very happy that KA-BAR uses 1095 CroVan when making my blades...........

E
 
Anyone care to share the actual percentages of the elements in Kabar's steel? That would be very interesting!

I have noticed in the short time i've had my Beckers they don't seem to rust too bad to be a carbon steel.
 
Thank you, Mr. Becker.

Rebel, 50100B chemistry is normally:
C 0.95, Mn 0.45, Cr 0.45, V 0.20

Since regular 1095 has about that amount of carbon and manganese, the "Cro Van" name makes sense. However, I think it is like calling a Porsche 911 the "Beetle Plus".
 
i like me some 5160 in some choppers i have. performs well... i have a lot of that.

also have a lot of Mercedes truck spring knives. for the most part, not bad.

L1 might be amusing to play with, but you know, you pay a price.

but i own many many many pounds of 1095 cv, and it's hard to beat
 
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