I am familiar with Rockwell hardness, C scale anyway, but what does Brinel hardness indicate, and how, if at all, does it relate to blade steels? I was told that water quenched 4340, tempered at 400o, has a Brinel hardness 100 points above 1095, given the same treatment. If this is true, what does it really mean?
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Question about Brinel hardness
- Thread starter LRB
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2003
- Messages
- 15,288
There are many hardness tests including 2 Brinell and 4 Rockwell tests ! Typically we use Rockwell C for blades .Rockwell C 31 = Brinell [10mm carbide ball] 293, Rc 50 = Brinell 477, Rc 60 = Brinell 653. As far as 4340 vs 1095 ? I'm not sure that the 4340 would be harder. 4340 is one of my favorite steels but not for knives as it's carbon content is too low for wear resistance .It is an oil quenching steel .It would make an excellent 'hawk or hammer.1095 of course makes an excellent blade and has been used for that for many years ! Hardness tests are only one of many properties that we should look at.