CRK A2 fixed blades: Why only 55-57 Rc?

[ras]

From what I've read, A2 tool steel should be hardenable to 60 Rc. Why are CRK fixed blade A2 knives only advertised to 55-57 Rc? Is CRK giving up edge holding for toughness? What am I missing 'cause I'm sure CR knows more than me when it comes to A2 or steel in general.

 

[Bobby B]

I just got a P1 and wondered the same thing. It must be to ease field sharpening and avoiding brittleness that lowers it...???

Will someone that isn't half asleep and/or knows what they're talking about answer...???

 

[mete]

ras, yes ,the general idea is that lower hardness is to gain some toughness. They do the same with S30V. My sebenza holds an edge very well, I don't need that extra couple of points of hardness. I'm sure that A2 works very well for a knife even at a 'soft' 57 HRc.

 

[JohnnyO]

Also for ease of sharpening in the field.

 

[MelancholyMutt]

I was standing across from Chris Reeve at one of the New York Shows with other interested customers when he was talking about how hard his knives are. According to the man himself, he said that a knife "doesn't need to be that hard" (to be an effective knife). He hardens his knives purposely to those numbers exactly for those reasons previously stated.