Precipitation hardening stainless steels

[Matt River]

Are precipitation hardening stainless alloys such as 17-4PH used in cutlery? Can such alloys be hardened without precipitation hardening? Also wondering about the precipitation hardened superalloys like Rene, Inconel. Remember reading something about a nickel alloy from Russian submarine being being discussed for blades, cannot find that thread anymore.

 

[Salem Straub]

GNiCr40Al4 was the name of that Soviet (Chinese now) precipitation hardening alloy. It worked very well for the folding knife I made with it. Here's a link to the WIP from that build.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/916004-Virtual-BBQ-WIP-GNiCr40Al4-frame-lock-folder

It is the only such alloy I have used so far- can't speak to other types. This stuff held an edge well but was a bitch to work with!