Hardness of S35VN - 58/59 versus 59/60

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Franco G

Joined
Dec 29, 2000
Messages
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Yesterday I realized that present Sebenza 21 in Reeve's shop has hardness HRC 59/60.

I have the same (older) Sebenza 21 with hardness HRC 58/59.

Question: Why Chris changed a hardness in recent Sebenza? Was he wrong with 58/59? Should I ask for a blade exchange?

Disclaimer: if this was already discussed I would appreciate a link.

Thanx

Franco G
 
Chris Reeve certificate says:

Knife: Large Sebenza 21

Blade S35VN 58/59 RC

Handle: Titanium

Date: October 10, 2011
 
The change was made mid-2013, so yours is definitely 58-59. Not a thing wrong with it, enjoy using it!
 
If anything the 58-59 RC blades are easier to strop and maintain and to resharpen. Who are we kidding, most of us don't use our CRK hard enough to justify the higher RC let alone feel the difference. I strop my Sebie daily anyways... I'm OCD that way ;)


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I would love to hear why the change. It seems to me the 58-59 was under attack by some and Reeve had defended it as the right choice for the material. So was it changed to appease or was it changed after considered observation? I do use mine for many tasks including camping, climbing, and hunting. They both are 58-59. So, I hope we see an actual informed answer to this question. It won't alter my use but it might influence future purchases.
 
Biggambi said:
I would love to hear why the change. It seems to me the 58-59 was under attack by some and Reeve had defended it as the right choice for the material. So was it changed to appease or was it changed after considered observation?
Click to expand...

Precisely my question, too.
 
All new steels need time to be fully understood by knifemakers. Time and experience will guide choices made as models are revised.

Here is your expert opinion from Mike Stewart of Bark River Knives. In this video forward to 23:00 minutes for his talk on S35VN. I own a Bark River in S35VN and that knife is fabulous in all aspects. Love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i30xJyHwQaA


WARNING: If you watch this video start to finish you will end up buying a Bark River.....make sure you have the funds set aside! Highly recommended and entertaining viewing for fellow knife enthusiasts.
 
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I know that CRK wants to make sure that their knives are user friendly for sharpening, hence the slightly lower hardness when the s35 blades started to come out. I believe I also remember reading that it was intended to prevent chipping. Chris tested the higher hardness extensively before making the change, I know that for certain:thumbup: I have both the higher and original hardness, and can't tell a difference in my use...
 
I'm happy with the change. I'm sure he did it because of user feedback mostly. It looks better in the specs too.
 
It took experience with the steel to demonstrate that it still had the properties CRK desired - easy sharpenability for the average user, and good toughness - at the higher RC.
 
kidcongo said:
All new steels need time to be fully understood by knifemakers. Time and experience will guide choices made as models are revised.

Here is your expert opinion from Mike Stewart of Bark River Knives. In this video forward to 23:00 minutes for his talk on S35VN. I own a Bark River in S35VN and that knife is fabulous in all aspects. Love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i30xJyHwQaA


WARNING: If you watch this video start to finish you will end up buying a Bark River.....make sure you have the funds set aside! Highly recommended and entertaining viewing for fellow knife enthusiasts.
Click to expand...

Oh great...just what i need. Thanks dude lol
 
lemmuhj said:
Oh great...just what i need. Thanks dude lol
Click to expand...

You may be thanking me sincerely later. If you (or anyone here) wants some advice on Bark River knives shoot me a PM. I have some good suggestions, and quite a bit of experience with at least a couple of their popular models. That info really doesn't belong in this forum so message me if you are interested. Would be glad to help. Right now the only knife I am saving for is a new Bark River, that I "need", which is why my CRK purchases have sparse.
 
kidcongo said:
All new steels need time to be fully understood by knifemakers. Time and experience will guide choices made as models are revised.

Here is your expert opinion from Mike Stewart of Bark River Knives. In this video forward to 23:00 minutes for his talk on S35VN. I own a Bark River in S35VN and that knife is fabulous in all aspects. Love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i30xJyHwQaA


WARNING: If you watch this video start to finish you will end up buying a Bark River.....make sure you have the funds set aside! Highly recommended and entertaining viewing for fellow knife enthusiasts.
Click to expand...


Thanks for sharing Kidcongo. I will have to watch the video in its entirety. Mike is a great guy. Have talked to him over on knifeforums some time ago. I also own several bark rivers and they are great knives also. Easily some of the finest fixed blades you will ever find without breaking the bank.
 
i just got my CRK sebenza 21 with birthdate of Aug, 2015, but on the card it has printed the hardness of 58-59 instead of 59 - 60. Do you think this is a mistake or my knife really DOES have the 58-59? I will never in my life be able to tell the difference, but i'm just curious lol
 
crick0234 said:
i just got my CRK sebenza 21 with birthdate of Aug, 2015, but on the card it has printed the hardness of 58-59 instead of 59 - 60. Do you think this is a mistake or my knife really DOES have the 58-59? I will never in my life be able to tell the difference, but i'm just curious lol
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It's 58-59. There was a mistake for some reason and even though the knives were being done at the higher hardness, the cards still had the old hardness. They have since been updated.
 
kidcongo said:
WARNING: If you watch this video start to finish you will end up buying a Bark River.....make sure you have the funds set aside! Highly recommended and entertaining viewing for fellow knife enthusiasts.
Click to expand...

I should have listened to your warning. Now I want multiple of the Bark River Knives in additional to the CRKs I want. This site is going to cost me a LOT of money.
 
My lefthanded small 21, born 19 november 2015 has a hardness of 59-60 rc. The card had original 58-59 rc but there has been typex tape put on it and 59-60 written over it by CRK.
Only have one other CRK, a large regular lefthanded bg42 from 1999, so can't compare.
 
crick0234 said:
i just got my CRK sebenza 21 with birthdate of Aug, 2015, but on the card it has printed the hardness of 58-59 instead of 59 - 60. Do you think this is a mistake or my knife really DOES have the 58-59? I will never in my life be able to tell the difference, but i'm just curious lol
Click to expand...

Since mid 2013 it has been 59-60. They have not used up all their old cards yet. Some of the newer cards show 59-60 written over white out tape.
 
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