I have a old EK Commando 1/4" thick, 5" blade double edge para knife. I believe it is made from HSC 1718 stainless steel. Can't find any info on this steel. Does anyone know the composition of this steel? Hardness rating, toughness, and edge retention? Or the actual steel this blade is made from? Etched on one side of the blade is "Made In USA. Effingham, IL."
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Ek Commando HSC 1718 Stainless Steel
- Thread starter laz88z
- Start date
RHINOKNIVES
Gold Member
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hey bub, ECK is up and running again, so call and ask them.
- Joined
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'Twas in the '80's I discovered EK Knives at an Army/Navy Surplus store. They had lots of them. I asked what the steel was, even knife magazines couldn't give me the info. The salesperson said it was 1718 Stainless. That sounded a lot like the designation of 17.4 PH or 17.7 PH, and I think that that's what it is--a Martensitic Precipitation Hardenable Stainless steel.
17.4PH is a TRADE NAME. It was the property of Armco Steel, but Armco was bought/merged with AKSteel in 1999. My guess is that going to the AK site and then calling them and getting them on the blower is the only way to solve the mystery. Here ya go: http://www.aksteel.com/
If it is 17.18PH, then that means it's around 17% Chrome and 18% Nickel. I don't know what the Rockwell hardness of such a beast could be, but even 17.7PH comes in at around Rc=50.
If it is 17.18PH it's probably hellacious stuff, and far, far, superior to other series of stainless for it's application--better than Puma (440B) Buck (420) etc. Probably not as good as Randall (0-1) for edge retention, as O-1 is really an outstanding steel for freshwater and all around uses.
UncleDougie
17.4PH is a TRADE NAME. It was the property of Armco Steel, but Armco was bought/merged with AKSteel in 1999. My guess is that going to the AK site and then calling them and getting them on the blower is the only way to solve the mystery. Here ya go: http://www.aksteel.com/
If it is 17.18PH, then that means it's around 17% Chrome and 18% Nickel. I don't know what the Rockwell hardness of such a beast could be, but even 17.7PH comes in at around Rc=50.
If it is 17.18PH it's probably hellacious stuff, and far, far, superior to other series of stainless for it's application--better than Puma (440B) Buck (420) etc. Probably not as good as Randall (0-1) for edge retention, as O-1 is really an outstanding steel for freshwater and all around uses.
UncleDougie