CRK Magnacut

[DocJekl]

It almost seems like it's described as the elusive magic steel combination of characteristics, tough to break, hard with good edge retention, and stainless. I snagged a small tanto blade Sebenza 31 in Magnacut and glass bead blasted Macassar ebony inlay a couple of weeks ago. The edge is quite sharp, but I have not tested the durability as I've only carried it twice.

Off-topic: The only difference it has from the special order that I placed online several weeks ago is (1) the single gold thumb stud vs the two silver thumb studs I ordered, and (2) Macasar Ebony instead of the natural micarta I ordered.
So I wonder if I called CRK with my order number if I can change my order to a large 31 or Inkosi in Magnacut, and with a different blade type, without losing my place in line?

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They'll probably change your small to a large without losing your spot (I've done it all the way up until I get the email for payment) but with the Inkosi having a different lead time than the Sebenza, I'm sure about if you changed that. I know you weren't able to change old drop point orders to tanto or insingo orders after they came out but since your order is a more recent one that was made after they're already out you probably could. Only way to know for sure is to call.

sailfish I forgot to update this thread from my post 4 months ago. Yes, Chris Reeve Knives did allow me to change my order from a Small Sebenza Tanto to a Small Inkosi Insingo, with no other changes to the order, and still keep my place in line. I love my S35VN Inkosingo / Insingkosi so, the new one will be a modest upgrade.

 

[rishma]

I’m curious about experiences sharpening MagnaCut with CRK running it pretty high hardness.

I am honestly not the best at sharpening. I can get the 58-60 Rc blades decently sharp but not totally to my satisfaction. I’m wondering if the higher hardness MagnaCut would frustrate me.

I don’t mind touching up blades, so id take ease of sharpening over edge retention, within reason.

 

[blanco112]

I’m curious about experiences sharpening MagnaCut with CRK running it pretty high hardness.

I am honestly not the best at sharpening. I can get the 58-60 Rc blades decently sharp but not totally to my satisfaction. I’m wondering if the higher hardness MagnaCut would frustrate me.

I don’t mind touching up blades, so id take ease of sharpening over edge retention, within reason.

It's a good question. I know that for years CRK said they ran lower hardness to balance sharpen-ability, edge retention and to avoid chipping. So I hope that they kept this in mind when chosing to go with a higher HRC.

 

[rishma]

It's a good question. I know that for years CRK said they ran lower hardness to balance sharpen-ability, edge retention and to avoid chipping. So I hope that they kept this in mind when chosing to go with a higher HRC.

MagnaCut is tougher at higher hardness vs previous generations of steel, so chipping shouldn’t be an issue. But yes, I wonder how much they sacrificed ease of sharpening because the market seems to want edge retention more.

 

[gunmike1]

I’ve many times found a given steel that it is easier to sharpen when it is at higher hardness. Mostly that has to do with the edge not being burr prone. I remember having 13C26, a razor blade steel with not many carbides, to be nothing but frustration at 57 RC, but when run at 60 RC it for.med a crisp edge readily. Cruwear and CPM M4 at 62-65 RC a take great edges for me in Shapton Glasstones, which are alumina based stones. Alumina based stones can’t sharpen vanadium carbides, but they are way harder than 65 RC. Magnacut is in a similar class to the Cruwear and CPM M4 as far as wear resistance, and I see no reason why it wouldn’t take a great edge on any stone you take to it. I haven’t received my Large Sebenza in Magnacut yet so I haven’t sharpened Magnacut, but I expect it to take a better, cleaner edge at 63-64 RC than at say the 58 RC Medford was originally running it at.

 

[Modernflame]

I’ve many times found a given steel that it is easier to sharpen when it is at higher hardness. Mostly that has to do with the edge not being burr prone.

+1 on this. It might take longer to form a burr on the harder steels, but this is not the same as being hard to sharpen. Getting rid of the burr on softer steels can be a pain. To be clear, I've never had an issue deburring s35vn from CRK, but I would also expect Magnacut to be easy to deburr.

 

[Slice O Life]

There are a few take aways on why Magnacut is great. But honestly, none that any CRK owner should find to be a problem or a need to upgrade to. Magnacut has a few ranges of optimal hardness. The lower end, which is nearer the 60 range has the same toughness of 4v or similar to it. Nearer 63 HRC Magnacut has an increase to edge retention, while still being quite tough.

These graphs are boring, but Magnacut is significantly more corrosion resistant than S45VN or S35VN. I have never heard of anyone really having rust issues with S35VN or S45VN. Magnacut is also marginally better in edge retention over S35VN or S45VN. It is probably unnoticeable unless you are someone that sharpens or uses their knives quite hard. Even then, the difference would be minor, still a slight improvement. Toughness might help with edge retention, as Magnacut is tougher than both S35VN or S45VN. At the harder 63ish range CRK aims for, you're going to get around M4 levels of toughness if M4 was also treated to the same level. Don't take my word for it, the graphs will do more than I could.

Is Magnacut a straight up upgrade? Yeah. But unless you baton, hit bones, go scuba diving, with your CRK, you will probably not be able to tell much of a difference unless you are an omega knife nerd.

 

[Officer's Match]

What I like about "toughness" in the "real" world is the ability to go more acute on the final grind.

 

[Slice O Life]

What I like about "toughness" in the "real" world is the ability to go more acute on the final grind.

You probably aren't going to get that from CRK for the time being. Stock thickness is still 0.12 inches thick which is about the same thickness as a mora companion. Also, the behind the edge thickness is about 20 thousandths of an inch, which brings it in line with the Para 2 about. Would be nice to see them make a thinner grind variant, but I think they would be afraid of YouTubers batoning with a thinner ground sebenza and saying that CRK are not worth the money lol.

 

[Slice O Life]

What I like about "toughness" in the "real" world is the ability to go more acute on the final grind.

Although perhaps Magnacut is the perfect blade steel to get a Klein regrind in...

 

[Officer's Match]

You probably aren't going to get that from CRK for the time being. Stock thickness is still 0.12 inches thick which is about the same thickness as a mora companion. Also, the behind the edge thickness is about 20 thousandths of an inch, which brings it in line with the Para 2 about. Would be nice to see them make a thinner grind variant, but I think they would be afraid of YouTubers batoning with a thinner ground sebenza and saying that CRK are not worth the money lol.

I was actually referring to the secondary (cutting) bevel. I'm okay with CRK's primary grind, mainly because of how many years of sharpening I can get. Love their hollow, particularly with the 21 and Zaan.

 

[Slice O Life]

I was actually referring to the secondary (cutting) bevel. I'm okay with CRK's primary grind, mainly because of how many years of sharpening I can get. Love their hollow, particularly with the 21 and Zaan.

Ah I see, yes I think youre right that it does help with that for toughness. Hollow grinds are one of the weaker grinds in terms of toughness so it can use the help of magnacut's toughness

 

[toker]

I’m curious about experiences sharpening MagnaCut with CRK running it pretty high hardness.

I am honestly not the best at sharpening. I can get the 58-60 Rc blades decently sharp but not totally to my satisfaction. I’m wondering if the higher hardness MagnaCut would frustrate me.

I have two Spyderco Mules in Magnacut. I haven't noticed any difficulty when sharpening Magnacut. Doesn't seem to be any more difficult to sharpen than S30V and S35V.

 

[nattynarwhal]

I've found diamond stones to be much more satisfying to sharpen with, when sharpening magnacut at the higher HRC levels (64-65). The spyderco mule I have in magnacut was run between 62 and 63, and it sharpened fine on traditional japanese waterstones like the naniwas. Not that you can't get a good edge on the harder magnacut with a non diamond stone, but you need to be a lot more mindful of your angles as shaping the apex without diamond/cbn abrasives is going to be a lot slower at that hardness, requiring more passes on the stone and consistent angles. The venev stones produced the crispest edges on magnacut in my experience, when compared to your traditional naniwas and kings.

I've noticed cruwear to be a whole lot more sharpenable than magnacut personally. Even cruwear at 65hrc seems to really "want" to take that screaming sharp edge that will feather hair and slice through paper like a silent lazer.

 

[rishma]

I've found diamond stones to be much more satisfying to sharpen with, when sharpening magnacut at the higher HRC levels (64-65). The spyderco mule I have in magnacut was run between 62 and 63, and it sharpened fine on traditional japanese waterstones like the naniwas. Not that you can't get a good edge on the harder magnacut with a non diamond stone, but you need to be a lot more mindful of your angles as shaping the apex without diamond/cbn abrasives is going to be a lot slower at that hardness, requiring more passes on the stone and consistent angles. The venev stones produced the crispest edges on magnacut in my experience, when compared to your traditional naniwas and kings.

I've noticed cruwear to be a whole lot more sharpenable than magnacut personally. Even cruwear at 65hrc seems to really "want" to take that screaming sharp edge that will feather hair and slice through paper like a silent lazer.

Thanks for this. I am limited to a sharpmaker and a strop, and I really don’t enjoy struggling to get a sharp knife. I prefer it quick and easy. My cutting tasks rarely exceed my edge retention and I don’t mind a touch up, so easier to sharpen is more important to me than edge retention, within reason.