Need to Clear Something Up About Steel Origins...

J

John_0917

Joined
Apr 15, 2014
Messages
3,384
Alright so I want to get something straight about steel origins. I know that each different type of steel originates for a certain maker and nation, but does that mean that all knives made from it have their blade steel made in that country by that maker? For example, 8cr13MoV is from China, AUS 8 from Taiwan, 14C28N is Swedish and so on...does this mean that all knives made with AUS8 have their blade steel made in Taiwan? All 14C28N blades in Sweden etc.?

I know this sounds like a dumb question, but I want to make sure I have this info correct.
 
John_0917 said:
Alright so I want to get something straight about steel origins. I know that each different type of steel originates for a certain maker and nation, but does that mean that all knives made from it have their blade steel made in that country by that maker? For example, 8cr13MoV is from China, AUS 8 from Taiwan, 14C28N is Swedish and so on...does this mean that all knives made with AUS8 have their blade steel made in Taiwan? All 14C28N blades in Sweden etc.?

I know this sounds like a dumb question, but I want to make sure I have this info correct.
Click to expand...

I have a couple 14C28N knives made in Taiwan, and one in USA.
 
The different kinds of steel by designation can be made in more than one country and they can be made in one country and shipped anywhere in the world to be used by MFGs and small makers. Steel designations have a patent life and then they can be made most anywhere after the patent has expired.
 
I think AUS-8 is actually a Japanese steel. Regardless, makers can buy different steels and manufacture them in difference places. Kershaw makes several knives using Sandvik 14C28N in their US factories. Some steels, like Hitachi's ZDP-189 or Bohler M390, are featured in knives made in the US (Kershaw, ZT, Spyderco, to name a few). For a while, it seemed like AUS-# blades were only made in Japan, Taiwan, and US, but I've seen some from China more recently. The 8Cr13MoV and similarly designated steels (3Cr, 7Cr, 8Cr14, 9Cr, etc.) seem to still be exclusive to knives originating from China. VG-10 also seemed to be be exclusive to Japanese-made knives (and some Fallknivens) before, but there are several Chinese-made knives with that steel now as well. There are even Chinese-made knives that are using Crucible's powdered steels (mainly S30V and S35VN).

There are also cases where some of the Chinese made knives will use a roughly equivalent steel and call it something else (eg. 9Cr13MoV being called 440C). If you buy from one of the reputable US companies, this shouldn't be an issue. For the Chinese brands, you'll want to do your own research.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if, for those blades made from foreign steel, if they have them blanked out in the country of material origin so they don't have to pay for the shipping of all of what is essentially scrap material.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top