TOPS Ranchero 3V

Steelhed

Steelhed

Joined
May 21, 2001
Messages
2,871
Anyone have any experience with the new version in 3V? They claim the RC is 62, and 3V has a reputation for toughness so it should be a tough knife with good edge holding ability.
 
CPM-3V isn't going to be tough at that hardness level according to Crucibles. I also discussed this with Phil Wilson awhile ago and he tried it at that hardness (several years back) and found it was quite brittle at that hardness. Few steels peak in toughness at that hardness. I doubt they are getting it that hard though as Phil was using full cryo after an oil quench.

-Cliff
 
When I read the TOPS webpage it said RC61 and heat treatment from Paul Bos. It is still rather hard for this type of knife, but they have the right man on the job.
 
Cliff or Jeff - What would be the optimum hardness for 3v? I wonder why TOPS decided to go with RC 61 (the guy at the knife shop told me it was RC 62)? I see on their website they call it diamondite enhanced, or something like that. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it fares after someone buys one and tries it out.
 
Steelhed :

What would be the optimum hardness for 3v?
Click to expand...

It has a toughness peak at 58 HRC, it is twice as tough there as it is at 60 HRC. It falls off again at 62. You will also see a loss of ductility as well.

-Cliff
 
I would take a 3V blade heat treated by Paul Bos at Rockwell 60 anyday. I once tried to damage a test blade I ground out of 3V to no avail(threw it down point first onto a concrete floor really hard, and chopped into 4 x4s and twisting violently sideways), and it Rockwelled at 62-63. 3V is impressive stuff.
 
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