Sandvik 12C27 or 0170-6C?

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Naphtali

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May 20, 2002
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Do Sandvik 12C27 and 0170-6C have much in common as knife blade steels? In charts and tables describing chemistries and heat treat, hardness/hardenability range is similar. Would I be accurate to describe them as a slight improvement from "bottom of the line" stainless steels and carbon steels respectively?

I have not found a "use" comparison of the these two steels.

I have otherwise identical single-bladed folding knives with 3.4-inch clip point blades .125-inch thicknesses, one of each steel, HRC range 57–59. As general slicing and utility blade for EDC, which blade would you expect to be more abrasion resistant — that is, do you have a preference for carrying either folding knife? If you do, please explain.
 
Never heard of 0170-C, but 12C27 is a wonderful steel. Have several knives with 12C27 blades that hold a good edge and do not rust.
Rich
 
they are miles apart, 170-6c is basically a slight variant of 1095... http://zknives.com/knives/steels/0170-6c.shtml - high carbon steel - and will rust easily

12c27 is stainless steel with a really good reputation for companies that use it - mora, opinel, etc etc
you may as well look at the few dozen historical threads of 'carbon vs stainless' - lot's of thoughts & info on each

Let us know which one you like more & why ; )
 
I believe 1070-6C is the same or close to Carbon V, very good steel IMHO - my Master Hunter in Carbon V is one of my top 5 knives.
 
Naphtali said:
Do Sandvik 12C27 and 0170-6C have much in common as knife blade steels? In charts and tables describing chemistries and heat treat, hardness/hardenability range is similar. Would I be accurate to describe them as a slight improvement from "bottom of the line" stainless steels and carbon steels respectively?

I have not found a "use" comparison of the these two steels.

I have otherwise identical single-bladed folding knives with 3.4-inch clip point blades .125-inch thicknesses, one of each steel, HRC range 57–59. As general slicing and utility blade for EDC, which blade would you expect to be more abrasion resistant — that is, do you have a preference for carrying either folding knife? If you do, please explain.
Click to expand...

These are very different alloys.
0170-6C was a non-stainless steel used by Camillus. Very similar to KaBar 1095 Cro-Van. Camillus ended operations in 2007. So I'm guessing this is either new old stock or a used knife that you are looking at.

12C27 is a stainless steel made by Sandvik and used by a lot of European makers. The closest US "equivalent" is probably 440A. Takes a fine edge.

Neither alloy is going to be particularly abrasion resistant compared to something like 440C, 154CM, or a PM alloy.
I prefer stainless steel blades in a folding knife.
 
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