Case CV blade hardness and comment on measuring traditional knives

[Humppa]

Frank, this infos are very interesting. I didn´t know about the different harding on tang and blade. But it´s nice to know it. (Though I needed an online translator to understand the whole words)

Thank you for this

Kind regards
Andi

 

[quattromori]

Frank,
thank you for your post. I have to be honest, I've always known about the Rockwell hardness ranks, but never really knew how the test is done. Metallurgy is not my bread I guess. Still, thank you for the info.
One more reason (if I ever needed one) to stay somehow far from crinked blades (which I never really liked).
I'm also happy about the Ken Erickson post on this. Of course I understand the differences between custom and production, but it's good to hear that anyway.

Fausto

 

[knarfeng]

Frank how do you like the yellow 39 over all?

I love the way the sowbelly fits in my hand when cutting. I also like the way the blades angle when opened. They are definitely open for business.

It does carry large in the pocket, though, because the blades are thick and wide. Feels as large as a 4 1/4" stockman, though the sowbelly is only 3 3/4.

A good knife for heavy chores when wearing blue jeans.

 

[ECarroll]

I e-mailed Case Knives and asked what the RC hardness of their CV knives are. Here is their response:

"Hi Everett!

The Rockwell hardness on our Chrome Vanadium blades is between 58-59 after treated and tempered. Thank you for your email and have a great day!

Marcy

Marcy Tully | W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. | Consumer Relations |
PO Box 4000, Bradford, PA 16701 | t: +1.888.445.6433 | f: +1.814.368.1736 | e: mtully@wrcase.com"

Moore Maker claims 56 +/- for their 1095

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I e-mailed Case Knives and asked what the RC hardness of their CV knives are. Here is their response:

"Hi Everett!

The Rockwell hardness on our Chrome Vanadium blades is between 58-59 after treated and tempered. Thank you for your email and have a great day!

Marcy

Marcy Tully | W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. | Consumer Relations |
PO Box 4000, Bradford, PA 16701 | t: +1.888.445.6433 | f: +1.814.368.1736 | e: mtully@wrcase.com"

Moore Maker claims 56 +/- for their 1095

That's good info. Always good to hear directly from the maker. Much thanks for looking into that.

I just recently picked up a couple of CV models from Case (6375 CV large stockman in Amber Bone, and a Chestnut Bone 6220 CV Peanut). After sharpening up the clip and the sheepsfoot (very thin) on the large stockman, I'm not too surprised at the numbers given by Case for the CV. I also have a 3138 CV Sod Buster (2006) that I re-bevelled, and it strikes me about the same way. Reminds me a lot of the 1095 from Schrade in my older 8OT stockman, and that's not bad.

The number given for Moore Maker's 1095 seems about right, too. I've noticed it seems rather softish, especially if sharpened on a diamond hone (buttery, almost).

All are good, and very easy to maintain by simple means. :thumbup:


David

 

[Mack]

Thank you for all the good info. I love threads like this. Learning is good.

 

[knarfeng]

Truthfully, I find that hard to believe. None of my Case knife blades , either True Sharp or CV hold an edge as well as blades I know to be hardened to the 58 range.

The Case CV does not hold an edge near as well as GEC 1095.
The Case True sharp does not hold an edge near as well as Buck 420HC.

Yet True-Sharp has been revealed to our members by Case to be 420HC.
And Case CV is said by Case to to one of our members to be 1095 with Chromium and Vanadium additions.

So, if CV is really 1095CV, hardened to a 58, why does GEC 1095, which is also hardened to a 58 hold an edge better?

Well the bright side is that now I gotta go buy more Case knives in order to gather enough data to satisfy me.

 

[jc57]

I'm not sure how accurate this information is, but it may be that the current Case CV is based on 1086 steel rather than 1095.

http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=case+cv

http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/case_tru-sharp.shtml

 

[ECarroll]

I also asked Queen what their RC hardness was for their Work Horse series knives, in 1095. Here is their response:

"Everett,
The harness on the 1095 is 55-58. Thank you so much for the interest in our product. thanks


Ryan Daniels"

Seems like a large range....

 

[jon_slider]

Very informative, thank you!
from the video above, after heat treat to harden, comes heat to soften the tang.. Seems to go past the tang actually..

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I also asked Queen what their RC hardness was for their Work Horse series knives, in 1095. Here is their response:

"Everett,
The harness on the 1095 is 55-58. Thank you so much for the interest in our product. thanks


Ryan Daniels"

Seems like a large range....

For 1095 and a lot of basic stainless (420/440-series/etc) in production knives, that doesn't surprise me at all. I think the vast majority of manufacturers know what their customer base is willing to tolerate (or not), in terms of edge retention vs. ease of sharpening. That 55-58 RC range has been right in the wheelhouse of a lot of production makers, over many decades (going back to the '70s/'80s at least). I remember looking at older mail-order knife catalogs, and taking note of the hardness specs published for different production brands. It was pretty rare to see any of them outside of that RC 55-58 window, almost to a mind-numbing degree. That seemed to be the 'sweet spot' everybody was aiming for. I'm sure it's based on manufacturers settling in on a range they know will consistently 'work' for their customers, with a minimum of surprises or complaints.


David