steel: 65x13 - hold good edge?

[ololon]

Hi,
does anyone have experience with this steel? - edge holding, toughness...?

thanks

 

[Gator97]

65x13 steel is Russian 440A.

 

[ololon]

thanks...hm, this is poor steel

 

[Gator97]

Well, for what it's worth, Russians knifenuts themselves complained about very big variances in steel composition, and Kizlyar eventually switched to Bonpertuis Z60CDV14 steel, which is similar.
Depending on the intended use 440A might do well.

 

[ololon]

i think, should be used for military knives(kizlyar, kabar...), steels such as 440C and better...by the way, kizlyar still uses steel 65x13 :/

 

[Gator97]

Dunno what they do now. Some folks complained about 65x13 being too inconsistent and others replied with something like if they pay steel mill workers for hangover vodka steel QC will be much better, why buy from French...
I figure second camp prevailed eventually. Dunno if workers got extra vodka though