Case Chrome-Vanadium steel from the '70s

[bilrus61]

I collected several Case pocket knives made back in the 1970s and the steel really seems excellent. Easy to get a razor edge on and holds it well. Very prone to rust however. I remember it was called "chrome vanadium" steel and I wondered if anyone knew the number or the alloys percentage that was in the steel on these older Case pocket knives.

 

[knarfeng]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=449016&highlight=case

Read second post.

"Short answer, 1095 with extra Chrome and Vanadium or 0-176C AKA 50-100B.", The Last Confederate

(I cheated. I had saved the answer in a Word file, then was able to find all threads with the word "case" in the title written by Mongo.)

 

[yablanowitz]

What bothers me about this answer is, the older carbon steel Case knives I have (from the sixties and early seventies) don't feel quite the same on a stone or in use as the modern CV Case knives I have. Is it still the same steel, with the same heat-treat? Are the differences all in my imagination? Or has the steel been changed in the last thirty years?

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Are the older ones better or worse?

-Cliff

 

[siguy]

based on an old case fixed blade with CV steel, i think maybe the old steel was harder. but that is based on the differenrece between a fixed blade and a folder.

 

[matt321]

My relatively new Case with CV takes a nice edge, but oddly goes dull while sitting on the shelf.

 

[yablanowitz]

That isn't really odd, it's oxidation at work.

The older carbon steel folders seem to be a bit less prone to peppering, and somewhat tougher in use. They also feel a little harder or perhaps just a bit more abrasion resistent when sharpening. At least, that is my impression. We are only talking about half a dozen blades in each group, so it may not mean anything.