Edge holding

I think too many people rely on only HRC numbers.

There are two very distinctive ways to reach 59-60 with S35vn and those two methods reach very different results in performance (heat treat for intended use is important here)

Since the bump I have yet to hear anyone really complain on the forums so it looks like most are happy with the results.
 
I believe they bumped the hardness. Disappointing that they left the birth cards incorrect.

Unfortunately the new Mnandi nail tick is unacceptable so I won't be buying a new harder version. I guess I could get my older one heat treated.
 
Just sent a mail to CRK. Not that i don't trust people on here, just need my own confirmation. Will post the reply, if I get one.
 
rishma said:
I believe they bumped the hardness. Disappointing that they left the birth cards incorrect.

Unfortunately the new Mnandi nail tick is unacceptable so I won't be buying a new harder version. I guess I could get my older one heat treated.
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If crks target hardness is 59 then are the birthrates truly incorrect? This was all talked about 3 or 4 months ago.
I too enjoy the bump in the hrc but heaven forbid someone gets a chip in the edge of their knife.
People will be outraged their 500 dollar knife is getting micro chips cutting an orange on a granite countertop.
 
rishma said:
I believe they bumped the hardness. Disappointing that they left the birth cards incorrect.
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Don't quote me, but I think if you asked super nice they would re-issue an updated birth card for you.

353 said:
Just sent a mail to CRK. Not that i don't trust people on here, just need my own confirmation. Will post the reply, if I get one.
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Wouldn't sending an email imply that you don't trust people on here? Tough crowd. I'm not the first to report the change here. I don't think you are going to hear an official announcement from CRK if that is what people are waiting for or why they are doubting.

Their newest model does reflect the change on their site. Maybe they just haven't updated the documentation, small company not a huge priority. They have never been really on top of their website.

Blade material: CPM S35VN
Blade hardness: 59-60RC
Blade length: 2.75 inches

I'm sure the Insoki cards will reflect.
 
I
willard0341 said:
If crks target hardness is 59 then are the birthrates truly incorrect? This was all talked about 3 or 4 months ago.
I too enjoy the bump in the hrc but heaven forbid someone gets a chip in the edge of their knife.
People will be outraged their 500 dollar knife is getting micro chips cutting an orange on a granite countertop.
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If they are targeting 59-60 then yes, a birth card with 58-59 is incorrect.


seriously doubt that the small bump in hardness adds any noticeable risk to chipping S35vn. I am not sure I would even notice the improvement in edge retention, though I bet some will.
 
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At the Blade Show Atlanta I spoke for a while with someone at the CRK booth (don't recall his name) about the Inkosi. I had noticed that the CRK web site listed the Inkosi hardness at 59-60, while all the other Sebenzas are (and always have been) 58-59, so I asked him about it. He confirmed the higher hardness for the Inkosi, and said that CRK had actually been running all the Sebenzas to the higher hardness since some time last year, and the web site had not been updated. He could not recall exactly when - maybe August. I sent an email to CRK to confirm, but it has not been answered.

This does bring up the issue of the birth cards stating the lower hardness.

One of the things that led me to buy a Sebenza 25 was some reviews that said the 25 was holding an edge noticeably longer than Sebenzas the reviewers had used before. This was a while back. In truth, I have never had any issues with edge holding with my Sebenzas (oldest is 2006). They have held up well, and I really have not seen them act differently than Spyderco's S30V or S35VN (I have used both), which seem to be held in high regard.
 
TTTis said:
If you really can't believe me just call and confirm. I have no reason to lie and already verified it via email with CRK staff. I know you intend not to offend, but understand it can be quite annoying to be doubted while relaying info from the horses mouth. Lol, knowing this forum I should've save the email and pasted it here.
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TTTis said:
Wouldn't sending an email imply that you don't trust people on here? Tough crowd. I'm not the first to report the change here. I don't think you are going to hear an official announcement from CRK if that is what people are waiting for or why they are doubting.
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No reason to take it personally, he is taking the advice you offered.

Can you really blame someone for finding the stated specifications/certification that came with the $500 knife a little more compelling than a (non-description) forum user with no known association with the company?
 
unit said:
No reason to take it personally, he is taking the advice you offered.

Can you really blame someone for finding the stated specifications/certification that came with the $500 knife a little more compelling than a (non-description) forum user with no known association with the company?
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I'm not taking it personally, the email was encouraged as I said. I was speaking to the part I bolded (re-read it). I think it's just funny when people say "I trust you" then do something that implies distrust. Could care less about the email. Make sense?
 
I can see that.
Sort of like when someone begins a statement "now be honest". That implies they think you have NOT been honest in the past.
 
This is a moment where CRK has to take a humble "cap in hand" and apologize for a failure of communication between our technical side and our customer service side. Yes, around mid-2013, the RC hardness on all the folding knives (Damascus excluded) was changed from 58-59 to 59-60. Our guarantee cards, brochure and website did not reflect that change. We are not happy about this lack of communication and are in the process of updating the relative published material.

Chris made the decision after reviewing the performance of S35VN at both hardnesses. He has always been a proponent of a slightly lower HRC to ensure shock absorbency and ease of sharpening. When he was convinced that blades at 59-60 would perform extremely well and meet all of his criteria, the change was gradually implemented. Bear in mind this is a possible spread of only 3% and a likely change of only 1% in the hardness and not a major change at all.

Anne
 
Anne,

Let me be the first to say, thank you for clearing it up!
 
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Thanks for updating us, Anne.

I can't imagine that I will actually notice a difference in use, but I am happy that the HRC has bumped a bit. I'll take the small increase in edge retention, noticeable or not.
 
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