Victorinox SAK Blade Steel?

[Indiana Joe]

Anyone know what they use?

 

[supratentorial]

Here's the info from Victorinox:

Q. What is the make up of the steel?
A. All Victorinox knives are high carbon, stainless, first grade, A-quality stainless steel, x 50 CrMo. They are tempered to a 55-56 HRC hardness for optimum edge retention. -SA

http://www.swissarmy.com/CustomerService/FAQs/Pages/pocket%20tools.aspx?#322

 

[SpyderHun]

Here's part of a very detailed answer from Victorinox that I received when I asked them the same question (unfortunately, the table wouldn't copypaste properly):

Victorinox alloys for knife blades
The Victorinox labs meet with the latest standard of engineering. They guarantee that only steel and plastic, which comply with our rigorous quality standards, are used in the manufacturing of our products. The steel consists of special alloys, which possess those material characteristics that are most important for the respective field of application. To make blades for pocket tools we use a stainless special knife steel alloyed with chromium and molybdenum.

raw material used for… short name C Cr Mo V
DIN [%] [%] [%] [%]
1.4021 springs X20Cr13 0.16-0.25 12.0-14.0
1.4031 parts X39Cr13 0.36-0.42 12.5-14.5
1.4110 blades [56 HRC] X55CrMo14 0.48-0.60 13.0-15.0 0.50-0.80 ? 0.15

All material is tested in accordance with inspection certificate 3.1 to SN EN 10204. All specifications and guidelines comply with the requirements of standard SN EN ISO 8442-1.

 

[pogo]

It is close to Sandvic steel. A very good steel but, at a lower Rockwell to make it easy to re-sharpin.

 

[Revvie]

And this matters HOW????
Peace
Revvie

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

Exactly, Swiss Army blade steel does what it needs to do, cut stuff for reasonable periods of time between sharpening. I've been carrying them for over 40 years and have never had one fail me because of poor edge retention.

 

[akula83]

And this matters HOW????
Peace
Revvie

It's still interesting to know

 

[Herr_Noobien]

Sounds like its 440A or 12C27.

 

[Roger999]

I remember reading that it is very similar to 440-B.

 

[Voltron]

Exactly, Swiss Army blade steel does what it needs to do, cut stuff for reasonable periods of time between sharpening. I've been carrying them for over 40 years and have never had one fail me because of poor edge retention.

You know what's interesting about their steel as well? They even cut when dull!! I was at work one time and had been cutting things all day, and went to cut a piece of shade cloth, and took out my Super Tinker, only to touch the blade and feel no edge whatsoever. DAMN, I thought. However, when I tried it, it still cut like heck. Thin blades work even when dull.

 

[mnblade]

Anyone know what they use?

I do. Good steel.

 

[yobbos1]

Whatever it is, it gets the job done. Every time.

 

[cotdt]

They are soft and poor performers. However, they have been very useful to me. Now, I just use a one-blade lockback folder for everything.

 

[Buck_Fan]

Whatever it is, it gets the job done. Every time.

+1 It works.