Black Gulch II steel?

[CoffeeCat2112]

I can't seem to find much information online elsewhere, so I figured I'd ask here. What is the steel on the USA-made Black Gulch II?

 

[Squashfan]

This model right? http://www.kershawguy.com/products-page/kershaw-blems/black-gulch-ii-3320-usa-made/

 

[CoffeeCat2112]

Yes, that one. I didn't see steel type anywhere.

 

[RevDevil]

Might be 440A

 

[Squashfan]

In this thread the author says that the blade steel is aus6: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/682255-Kershaw-Black-Gulch!

Do a word search in your browser for "steel".

I hope this helps!
Squashfan

 

[Chris Wille]

I think the newer ones are 8Cr13MoV but i see AUS 6 as well so IDK for sure
I found this comment "These knives are also available in a jigged bone insert and a hardwood insert and both of these knives have 8Cr13MoV blade steel (better blade steel) but I've actually only seen them in Kershaw's 2010 catalog."

 

[flarp]

Model may have come out around 1996. I think the Black Gulch was also made in Japan, so the references to AUS6A steel on various online retailers' descriptions may be left over from that. The new ones are made in China and use 8Cr13MoV (current catalog). Not sure when they shifted manufacturing of that model overseas, but if you have an older Kershaw catalog between 1996 and now, the details might be in there.

There was also a Black Horse II knife that seems to have been made in the USA for a while. Very similar (if not the same) blade shape, but different handle. Various online retailers list that as 440A, but I don't know if that's correct either. If I were to venture a guess, I'd say 440A or 420HC for the USA-made Black Gulch II.

In the review linked above, the author seems to be reviewing the Chinese-made one with 8Cr13MoV:

... A while back there was a thread that caught my eye regarding Kershaw moving some of their production from Japan to China. I contacted Thomas about the differences in the knives since the move, as I'd had a hard time finding a Black Gulch that was 'up to par', and he very graciously sent me one of the new ones...

... The new blade steel (sorry, I forget the name) is a bit harder that the AUS 6 in my older BG...