Thoughts on 8Cr13MoV Stainless Steel

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gunningguy20

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May 30, 2013
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What are your thoughts on 8Cr13MoV Stainless steel used by Kershaw and Byrd? It doesn't hold an edge quite as well as I would like it.
 
I can't say I have any experience with spydercos Byrd line of knives, but I carried a kershaw volt (II) for almost a year and a half, in my experience it won't rust easily, it's easy to sharpen, it can take a hair popping edge and hold a working edge for a reasonable amount of time, over all I like it for what it is.

What it is, is a budget steel used in cheaper knives, it's not a super steel, but for the money you pay it's a decent steel that I personally like. Just my two cents:) your mileage may vary dude (sorry, I couldn't resist:p)
 
For what 8Cr13MoV is, It's awesome. It's able to get insanely sharp and able to be sharpened pretty easily being that It's a softer steel. It won't easily rust on you. You'd have to forget your knife outside or something for quite awhile before it starts to rust.
 
I'll concur with whats said above, easy to sharpen, gets a great toothy edge on it, I've not had one rust but have seen one rust when it wasn't taken care of (6 months of hard use and never cleaned). The Kershaw and Spyderco 8cr13mov I have used has kept its workable edge for what I would consider a decent amount of use. Seems to be about the same heat treatment on both of them (I couldn't tell the difference). It's not s30v we're talking about mind you but it works on the price point of knives I've used with it, no complaints!
I do prefer it over aus8 used in some other name brand folders, Its almost like there was no heat treat on the blades in those Aus 8's and I'm not a picky person.
 
I like it a lot. Can get it super sharp. And if you can sharpen it what does retention really matter if it can last a week it's good for me
 
8Cr13MoV is my favorite budget steel. It takes a sharp edge and hold it for a fair amount of time and can be stropped back to a great edge.
 
I have no experience with Kershaw's 8Cr13Mov, but I've used a Spyderco Mule and a Tenacious with that steel. It's OK, pretty similar to Buck's 420HC in performance (at least in my use). It's fine for an affordable EDC knife, it's super easy to sharpen and polishes up nicely. Edge holding isn't that great, so you might not enjoy it if long cutting chores are part of your daily routine.
 
Franciscomv said:
I have no experience with Kershaw's 8Cr13Mov, but I've used a Spyderco Mule and a Tenacious with that steel. It's OK, pretty similar to Buck's 420HC in performance (at least in my use). It's fine for an affordable EDC knife, it's super easy to sharpen and polishes up nicely. Edge holding isn't that great, so you might not enjoy it if long cutting chores are part of your daily routine.
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i believe the Mule is actually 9cr18yaddayadda not 8cr. The Mule should hold an edge a little better if heat treated properly. I have two of those Mules but have hardly used them because no sheath or handles, have used my Tenacious a lot and it performed admirably for its price. Needs to be touched up often, but that's to be expected.
 
My brother has beaten up his kershaw chill which has that steel and put it to the test in his job and it has held up quite well. He was surprised at how good it held up as well as his co workers from what I hear. He used to move heavy machinery and other things for a living (heavy as in, 10+tons isn't unreasonable). So I be honest I have no doubts about the quality of kershaws 8cr13mov, I did orginally on the chill but he proved otherwise.

Worst that knife has gone through though was when he let someone borrow it and they decided to cut metal bands, cut packaging till it hit the metal object underneath and grinded blade on it and continue till it hit the end of it till you hear a "clang" from it hitting the metal wall. This went on all day from what I heard, guy got chewed out for abusing the knife. As for the damage done the tip was slightly chip and blade needed some work done, but he was able to sharpen it out and put a new tip on it. Can't tell you how bad it was as I never saw the damage and you wouldn't know it by looking at it.
 
I have several knives with 8Cr13Mov blades and I like it a lot. The knives I have are all larger work knives and I bought the knives with the specific intention of using them in my construction work. I like it for all the reasons listed above.

I sweat gallons during the summer and it will only get rust flecks after two or three days of sweating through my jeans. I use the knives (most recently a Kershaw Tremor) for all manner of unpleasant tasks like cutting filthy fiberglass strapping bands, trimming molding, cutting down appliance boxes and down to sharpening my pencil when I doing trim work.

I agree with all the above posts. The steel will take a screaming sharp edge, actually holds it very well, and is a snap to sharpen. Many times at the end of the day my knives are no longer nasty sharp regardless of the steel. With that in mind, the 8Cr holds it own and will keep a good working edge all day long. The edge just gets a bit dull, it doesn't roll, chip or deform. It just gets dull. I give it a few quick swipes on my 12" chef's rod (800gr) and it is back to form in no time with no fuss at all.

It's good stuff.

Robert
 
bad_juju said:
I do prefer it over aus8 used in some other name brand folders, Its almost like there was no heat treat on the blades in those Aus 8's and I'm not a picky person.
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I agree, I like 8Cr13MoV more than aus 8. I really like the way it sharpens, but I don't like the way it holds its edge.

danbremner said:
If its bead blasted at you live by a lake in Minnesota... You may have rust issues
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+1 to this. I've had a bead blasted Kershaw rust on me, and I live in a dry suburb in Ohio :rolleyes:
 
Just to echo what others have said, I have a Kershaw Tremor, and it will sharpen to an excellent edge, and for the use I use mine for (trimming shrubs and small brush) it remains sharp for a full day of trimming. Just a quick run on my slotted paper wheel (acts as a strop) and it is back to razor sharp. I find it has the sharpening and durability use of a steel such as a carbon 1095, with the added benefit of being stainless.

Blessings,

Omar
 
In my limited experience (a Byrd somethingorother), it was easy to sharpen, and to a fine razor edge, but didn't hold it for long, but longer than cheaper steels.
 
goodeyesniper said:
i believe the Mule is actually 9cr18yaddayadda not 8cr. The Mule should hold an edge a little better if heat treated properly. I have two of those Mules but have hardly used them because no sheath or handles, have used my Tenacious a lot and it performed admirably for its price. Needs to be touched up often, but that's to be expected.
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You're right, mate. I just checked and my Mule is 9Cr18Mov. Slap some nice handle scales on yours and make a simple pouch sheath, you'll use it a lot.

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It's pretty comparable to AUS-8, which is a good blade steel. Easy to sharpen and maintain. Decent edge retention. I've had both 8Cr13MoV and AUS-8 roll on me on occasion, but no chips to date. It may be due to me or differences in the blade grinds, but I've found my AUS-8 blades sharpen marginally better (able to get a more consistent edge). Other than that, for most practical purposes, I'd rate them equal.
 
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