Production Knife Steel

JoeW · Nov 17, 2006

Which Production Knife steel has the hardest/highest Rc. rating.?

locomike · Nov 17, 2006

ZDP 189?

MORIMOTOM · Nov 17, 2006

probably the zdp, around 65 i believe. but i have only seen it as a laminate. d2 comes in pretty hard around 60.

symphonyincminor · Nov 17, 2006

H1 can get become work hardened to 65 Rc (plain edge) and 68 Rc (SpyderEdge).

ZDP-189 clocks in at 67 Rc.

samhain73 · Nov 17, 2006

ATS-34 is usually around 59-61

alejandrino · Nov 17, 2006

ZDP 189 used by William Henry are rated at 67-68 RC. Spydies have theirs at 64 RC.

USSR · Nov 17, 2006

Can't they get Cowry X up to 67 or 68?

symphonyincminor · Nov 18, 2006

USSR said:
Can't they get Cowry X up to 67 or 68?

Yep, but no one is really using it right now (except in kitchen cutlery). Yet.

Sal Glesser · Nov 18, 2006

I believe ZDP-189, at this time, is probably the hardest (Rc65-67) steel used in production, though it is limited production. Other steels will get as hard, but it is not an "optimal" hardness and often are brittle when made that hard

Ceramic knives are harder, but they are not production steel.

sal