heat treatment on leathermans knife blades?

[PitbullShogun]

does anyone know anything about the heat treatment leatherman (or whoever makes the're knives) puts on the're knife blades? if i were to point out one steel it would be 420HC, because they use it the most. any thoughts?

 

[brets-ftw]

last i checked it was 420hc and no idea. but you can always call up customer service

 

[kreole]

Yeah it's 420hc. I'd be curious to know as well. Their hrc listing for it is a pretty large range

Rockwell hardness by steel type:
420HC: 55-59
154CM: 58-60
S30V: 58-60

late edit: They actually give a couple details on the same webpage...should've scrolled down further last time

420HC blades: Crater series
• Fineblank - precision stamping process
• Flat finish - takes off initial burs from the stamping process
• Heat treat - this is a Quench Bath heat treat
• Mass finish - round over the sharp edges
• Double disc grind - makes the blades very flat at a precise thickness
• Lock taper grind - precision grinding of the KB lock face (only on c3/e3)
• Hollow grind - grind the main bevels and false edges
• Bead blast - creates matte surface finish
• Sharpen

154CM blades: Expanse series
• Laser cut - 154CM is too hard to blank, so it must be laser cut
• Heat treat - this is a Cryogenic heat treat
• Mass finish - round over the sharp edges
• Machining - precision hole drilling and counter sinking operation
• Double disc grind - makes the blades very flat at a precise thickness
• Lock taper grind - precision grinding of the KB lock face (only on c3/e3)
• Sharpen
• Buff

 

[TKM]

Depending on the line, it could be either 420HC, 154 CM or, in very limited models, S30V.

 

[holygoat]

I seem to recall from the factory tour that heat treat, like anodizing, is not done in-house.

Sharpening is done in-house, one blade at a time, by robot arms. Super cool.