Case "surgical" steel ?

J

jacktrades_nbk

Joined
Feb 7, 2007
Messages
2,787
what exactly is that steel ?
owners of case knives, to what steel can you compare it ?
i like the case offerings, like the stockman, trapper...and more, maybe il pick one up anyway, but more knowledge doesn't hurt :D
thanks
 
I've read here that it is, or is similar to, Buck's 420HC. As far as edge wear, in my experiance, it seems to hold up pretty well. A forum member here sent me a Case Whittler with "Tru-Sharp" stainless blades, and it's a worker, alright. I wouldn't hesitate to carry it for daily use.

thx - cpr
 
My Case Soddie has not let me down. The SS that Case uses is very good!
 
jacktrades_nbk said:
what exactly is that steel ?
owners of case knives, to what steel can you compare it ?
i like the case offerings, like the stockman, trapper...and more, maybe il pick one up anyway, but more knowledge doesn't hurt :D
thanks
Click to expand...

It is exactly whatever Case wants to use. They have never disclosed what alloy it is.

The performance is said to be about the same as that of 420HC. While it is true that Buck uses 420HC, they state that they temper it to a hardness of 56-58. According to the information from AG Russel, Case hardens their blades to 54-57. Don't have a current Case to compare, but I think the Buck might well hold an edge better. Either way, the Case blades are plenty good for EDC judging from the number of satisfied users.
http://www.agrussell.com/buck-55-with-buffalo-horn/p/BU55LEhhh1BH/

http://www.agrussell.com/case-harvest-orange-medium-stockman/p/CShhh7403/
 
knarfeng said:
It is exactly whatever Case wants to use. They have never disclosed what alloy it is.QUOTE]

This is true, "surgical" steel does not mean anything. It's not related to a specific alloy. Our steel grade (I represent Sandvik) used in surgical blades like scalpels and microtome blades are 13C26. But in lower end surgical blades also 420J2, 420, 420HC, 1.4112 and several other steels are used.

I would personally prefer that the blade steel is always disclosed, however there are quite a number of knife-makers that want to be able to use several sources/types of steel and "play" them against each other for commercial reasons. I dont have a huge problem with this as a supplier, this behaviour can of course be countered, but as a consumer I always demand to know what I'm buying. If the knife-maker wants to keep his secret he can also keep his product as far as I am concerned. I normally stay away when I hear terms like "Surgical stainless", "Premium stainless", "German Edelsthal", "Inox" etc etc.

//Jerker
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I find that my Case knives hold an edge much longer than my 420hc Buck knives. Not sure what they're using but it's quite good stuff!
 
Razorsharp244 said:
knarfeng said:
It is exactly whatever Case wants to use. They have never disclosed what alloy it is.QUOTE]

This is true, "surgical" steel does not mean anything. It's not related to a specific alloy. Our steel grade (I represent Sandvik) used in surgical blades like scalpels and microtome blades are 13C26. But in lower end surgical blades also 420J2, 420, 420HC, 1.4112 and several other steels are used.

I would personally prefer that the blade steel is always disclosed, however there are quite a number of knife-makers that want to be able to use several sources/types of steel and "play" them against each other for commercial reasons. I dont have a huge problem with this as a supplier, this behaviour can of course be countered, but as a consumer I always demand to know what I'm buying. If the knife-maker wants to keep his secret he can also keep his product as far as I am concerned. I normally stay away when I hear terms like "Surgical stainless", "Premium stainless", "German Edelsthal", "Inox" etc etc.

//Jerker
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Well said. I agree. I want to know what I am buying.
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Razorsharp244 said:
knarfeng said:
It is exactly whatever Case wants to use. They have never disclosed what alloy it is.QUOTE]

This is true, "surgical" steel does not mean anything. It's not related to a specific alloy. Our steel grade (I represent Sandvik) used in surgical blades like scalpels and microtome blades are 13C26. But in lower end surgical blades also 420J2, 420, 420HC, 1.4112 and several other steels are used.

I would personally prefer that the blade steel is always disclosed, however there are quite a number of knife-makers that want to be able to use several sources/types of steel and "play" them against each other for commercial reasons. I dont have a huge problem with this as a supplier, this behaviour can of course be countered, but as a consumer I always demand to know what I'm buying. If the knife-maker wants to keep his secret he can also keep his product as far as I am concerned. I normally stay away when I hear terms like "Surgical stainless", "Premium stainless", "German Edelsthal", "Inox" etc etc.

//Jerker
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I thought INOX was the specific alloy rather than just a general term...

http://cutleryscience.com/reviews/blade_materials.html#S_INOX
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My french is a bit rusty but INOX in an abreviation for "inoxidable" and means "stainless" just like 3Guardsmen said. And by now, as most of you here know, stainless steel can mean just about anything.

//Jerker
 
CASE stainless is very good (at least recent stuff made in the last 8years) I have more than 20 of their stainless knives&they've all arrived extra sharp and it's easy to get them back that way. These are pocket knives of an old school type and not supposed to be subjected to extreme use.They are good workers and well-made and they look and feel just right(if you like Traditional pocket-knives) Their stainless is reliable and their CV steel a very good alternative for those who like patina on carbon knives.

I'd say, get some and you won't be disappointed:thumbup:
 
I'm sure I read somewhere that Case uses 440A for their stainless blades. I don't know if it is the steel or not, but Case has improved their sharpening a great deal as the out of box sharp is really good, if a little rough sometimes. But a few strokes on a Sharpmaker usually takes care of any roughness.:D
 
I'll buck the trend. I dont care for case's stainless steel. I have had 2 of their new stockmans and a copperlock, not one of them would hold and edge worth a darn. The chrome vanadium blade steel they use is a different story though, and holds up really well to whittling or daily tasks.
 
Ive got 2 Soddies a Russlock and tried to buy a Hammerhead. All 4 knives were insanely sharp out of the box but lost their edge near instantly. With the Hammerhead I tried to buy, from an authorized Case dealer with hundreds of Case knives in stock, but all 4 Hammerheads he had in stock had rust all over the spine and along the curve of the liner from being closed. The guy then ordered one from his warehouse and it had even more rust on it. Then we tried ordering from Case themselves THREE times! Each time resulted in the same thing, a rusted Hammerhead. Idk if the blade steel is the same across the Soddies, Russlock and Hammerheads and I doubt that it is. Ive dealt with that Case dealer for quite awhile he has a pretty big Case display and a good portion of the hardware store it is in dedicated to displaying the Case knives so whenever I am in there for hardware I check out some of the Case knives. I do not believe that any of the Case knives I own or have handled are actually stainless steel. I know I have not tried all the Case knives but have indeed handled quite a few. Comparing Case steel to Bucks amazing 420HC is insulting to Buck. It would be interesting to find out where Case sources their steel from Im thinking its overseas somewhere with its actual origins in China. I know that a lot of Chinese "stainless" steel is rated on Chinese standards which are lower than in the west but still market the steel as stainless even using western ratings (420HC, S30V etc) since the steel meets Chinese standards its pretty screwy but so has been my experience with Case. I really wanted a Hammerhead! I wish my pricey Russlock and bone jigged Soddies could hold an edge beyond cutting off a box top!
 
My experience is, what ever composition it is they use, that Case's stainless comes very sharp right out of the box, holds it's edge for about a weeks worth of cutting chores, and then sharpens back up within five minutes. It works for me.
 
I never understood trying to advertise steel as "surgical grade". Wouldn't the surgery industry look for exceptionally cheap steel, seeing as their scalpels are disposable...
 
It was the only steel tough enough for Parker's old Pit Bull knife! :p

hv7ae9.jpg
 
Surgical steel is usually one of 3 things austenitic 316 stainless and martensitic 440 and 420 stainless steel. There is no formal standard that defines "surgical steel" so manufacturers can apply the term to any kind of corrosion resistant steel. A marketing gimmick really. I am going to assume that the made in Japan Parker-Frost in the pic above is made of a high grade Japanese stainless steel that trumps 316, 420 and 440 somehow. What it actually is we will likely never know but when the Japanese say its a high quality stainless steel they mean it and then some.
 
CelticCross74 said:
Surgical steel is usually one of 3 things austenitic 316 stainless and martensitic 440 and 420 stainless steel. There is no formal standard that defines "surgical steel" so manufacturers can apply the term to any kind of corrosion resistant steel. A marketing gimmick really. I am going to assume that the made in Japan Parker-Frost in the pic above is made of a high grade Japanese stainless steel that trumps 316, 420 and 440 somehow. What it actually is we will likely never know but when the Japanese say its a high quality stainless steel they mean it and then some.
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I always hear it's 440A?
 
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