Tell me about CV steel from Case.

[CrimsonTideShooter]

I tried looking in the knife steel FAQ, but CV wasn't listed. I know it's not stainless, and that's about it for my knowledge of CV. Does it take a keen edge? How well does it hold the edge, etc??

 

[KennyB]

There's another thread around here where I was asking about 1095 CroVan and it was revealed by a member here that Case's CV is probably 1085 with a little extra chromium and vanadium. Not that that matters too much, just thought it was interesting.

I can't really comment too much on the edge retention because I don't use mine that much, but it seems to be rather decent. I haven't had to resharpen mine to say, but I guess that in itself means it's fairly good. Again I don't really use my Case knife enough to say. It takes a very fine edge, but not quite as fine as something like 14C28N. I would say a lot finer than BM's S30V at least, but I'm working with limited experience.

All in all I think it's pretty good steel. I would buy it over their TruSharp stuff simply for the ease of sharpening. I think Case hardens to 57 HRC... Don't hold me to that though. All I know is that CV holds the edge pretty much as well as I expect, and it sharpens up extremely fast.

 

[CrimsonTideShooter]

Thanks. I can tell that it sharpens well because it's the only knife I own that will whittle hair without having an edge pro treatment. The sharpmaker with the UF rods got it extremely sharp. :thumbup:

 

[knarfeng]

It's an alloy steel (that means it is non-stainless, but cannot be correctly called "carbon steel" because it has controlled amounts of elements other than carbon and manganese in it.) I have seen an analysis sheet for steel sold to Case. It was 0.85% carbon with small additions of Chromium and Vanadium.

IMO it takes as fine an edge as any stainless, including 14C28, with almost any sharpening equipment.

It holds an edge about like Buck 420HC.

I like it.

 

[KennyB]

It holds an edge about like Buck 420HC.

That's good news. Like I said, I haven't needed to sharpen mine yet, but I know how long Buck's 420 holds up.

I have a Yellow Trapper in CV, but I can't get it as sharp as my Kershaw Needs Work, it's just very comparable. That all probably has more to do with sharpening inconsistencies, edge thickness, etc.

 

[CrimsonTideShooter]

That's good news. Like I said, I haven't needed to sharpen mine yet, but I know how long Buck's 420 holds up.

I have a Yellow Trapper in CV, but I can't get it as sharp as my Kershaw Needs Work, it's just very comparable. That all probably has more to do with sharpening inconsistencies, edge thickness, etc.

That surprises me. Literally 5 minutes on the sharpmaker with the UF rods got my trapper screaming sharp. It's actually the first knife I've gotten to whittle a hair without the edge pro.

I definitely have more case CV knives in my future. :thumbup:

 

[KennyB]

That surprises me. Literally 5 minutes on the sharpmaker with the UF rods got my trapper screaming sharp. It's actually the first knife I've gotten to whittle a hair without the edge pro.

I definitely have more case CV knives in my future. :thumbup:

Well, the Needs Work has a very thin hollow-grind. I compare the two mostly because the Needs Work is the only other hollow-grind I have, and 14C28N has a reputation for being very pure steel that takes a very fine edge. I think my Needs Work is a little sharper because it has a thinner blade right behind the edge, but otherwise I think they're right on par with each other in terms of how the edge actually feels and looks.

In any case, yeah, I definitely like it too and I'm always looking at Case knives to buy, but never really wanting to because they're only offered in TruSharp.