What is "Carbon V"?

P

persuader 590

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Jan 4, 2002
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I'm new to this board and have noticed a trend regarding Cold Steel Knives. Either you love 'em or you hate 'em. My question is this: What exactly is Carbon V? Cold Steel would have us beleive that it is a mysterious alloy that they, and they alone possess. I've heard rumor that it is actually AUS 6. Is this true?
 
I doubt that it is AUS 6, as AUS 6 is a stainless steel. Carbon V is definitely not stainless, and is a much better edge holder than AUS 6 in my experience.
 
I have three carbon-v filet knives and it takes a real nice edge. It rusts up pretty easily too, but the blades are poweder coated on the filets, and mine must be good because there is no chipping on mine at all after 4 years of hard use. Sharpens up hair popping real quick as well. IMO it cant be aus-6 or aus-8. I think it is a cheap high-carbon steel.

JC
 
While I am not sure (who is :confused: ), it seems as though I once read here on the Forums that the mysterious "Carbon V" is really nothing more than good ol' 1095. I have owned both a trailmaster and Recon Scout and have no complaints with the blades, the crappy rubber handles are another story :rolleyes:
 
It is, by most accounts, simply 0170-6 carbon steel. It may be rolled a certain way to improve grain structure.

There is nothing secret about Carbon V really. If Cold Steel has a "secret", it would be that they probably do a good job with the heat treat, as much as a sizeable knife company doing huge batches of knives in huge ovens can do a fine-tuned heat treat.

See this thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=122099&highlight=01706+carbon+v
 
According to Wayne Goddard's book (The Wonder of Knifemaking) a chemical test on a Trailmaster Bowie of "Carbon V" got these results:

C 0.95
M 0.46
Si 0.16
Cr 0.48
V 0.19

However, whether this one sample is an accurate formula for "Carbon V" is anybody's guess.

Andrew Limsk
 
Cold Steel does not manufacture or heat-treat knives; they just resell them. "Carbon V" is not a steel; it is a registered trademark owned by Cold Steel and used to describe whatever carbon steel is used by whatever manufacturer is making the knives they are currently reselling. Current production "Carbon V" knives are all made by Camillus and made of 0170-6C (according to usually reliable sources) -- however, in the past "Carbon V" knives have been made by other manufacturers who used other steels -- so if your knife is more than a couple of years old ... then search for old threads from about the time your knife was made.
 
Whatever it is, Carbon V is one heck of a great carbon steel. Easy to sharpen, takes and holds a fantastic edge compared to most others, and at an affordable price. The only better high carbon steel I've come across is 52100 (specifically, Marbles). I believe CS (or whoever makes their carbon steel blades, which I understand is Camillus) uses a heat treating process which results in a very fine grain structure. The only downside is that it rusts easily.
 
Hello;
First let me say this is my first posting to this
great forum. It kiks butt to find a place where
people actually have decent mature discussions on
the net.
Second;
I am certialy no authority on the properties of every
steel in the world. I am an apprentice of a black
smith here in nc w/40 yrs experience; so im learning
alot in a short time. Im also a collector w/20 yrs
experience. Needless to say ive seen BS :mad: come
and go. One thing I do know for sure is this:

Every and I mean every knife I have purchased from
CS has been of the highest quality. Ive even
gotten factory seconds that performed as well
as were expected. Knives are tools; for a spec-
ific use; thank god somebody created prybars;axes;
chisels;saws etc to perform the things our knives
shouldnt have to.
Now I'll admit CS makes some bold:o claims;
and they are begging to be put to the test; like
a kid in a supermarket wearing his big brothers
BLACKBELT:BUT So far in MY expierence CS is a DA*N
fine production knife co. I am learning some
about carbon steels (coil springs from large
earthmoving equip make GOOD edge matl.) and
whatever CARBON V is I just hope they (or whoever)
keep makin' it cause im buyin' (I havent tested
the stuff from taiwantanium land yet though.)
 
I asked this a couple of years ago and was told Carbon V was 50100-B.I have several CS knives and all are Carbon V.I like this stuff because it is very tough and it gets a nice patina on the uncoated blades,something that I'm fond of on antique carbon blades.
thanks
ford
 
Greetings ford its me again;tell me more
about this patina thing. That word scares
me unless youre talkin about silver,copper,
or brass. I avoid rust like the plague (dont
we all, we spend TOO much $$ on this stuff!!)
I realize there is a difference though. I
usually use EEZOX gun care on about everything
that stuff ROX!!! It removes/stops the very
light looking color change that I didnt classify
rust. My carbon V CS Gurkha Kukhri splits
frog hair:eek: ive never seen a Cranial removal
tool sharper.
I worry about RESHARPENING HER THOUGH. Any
ideas???
 
Gentlemen;
Another question came to mind after i
logged off last nite; A collegue above said
Cold Steel has someone else manufacture thier
steel and or blades for them. I had a sneaky
suspicion they did since I own an old CSTM
in CARBON V with the name HOFFRITZ on the
blade. It follows if cammilus or anyone else
makes a specific knife for them to stick a
name on why is the knife made by the same
company in thier name not as good as the
one they make for CS???!!
I know for a fact that anything that carries
the name of Iron Crow Forge and has Gary
Crowther's name on it had better stand up
to muster or it wont go out the door. I under-
stand the difficulties involved in mass
production demand a different approach;
but why should somethin I make for someone
else to put a name on be better than mine?
 
I think it is high carbon steel and it differs from model to model depending on what company makes it.

See the article in TK a while back with Cammillus and Cold Steel? The article was on their slip joint knives. I started to chuckle because the rumor is that Cammillus makes both knives. I wonder which is better? I know the Cammillus is a lot cheaper.
 
Originally posted by ford
I asked this a couple of years ago and was told Carbon V was 50100-B.I have several CS knives and all are Carbon V.I like this stuff because it is very tough and it gets a nice patina on the uncoated blades,something that I'm fond of on antique carbon blades.
thanks
ford
Click to expand...

By the way, 50100-B and 0170-6 are very nearly the same steel. 50100-B doesn't have the 0.2% silicon that 0170-6 contains.

The tests that Goddard has run showed that his particular Trail Master did have the smidgen of silicon, leading them to say CarbonV on that knife was pretty much a match for 0170-6. FWIW.
 
razorblade,
The patina I am talking about is the discoloring of carbon steel blades.Carbon V does this very quickly.I don't mind it one bit on my CS small stockman.I won't let it rust but if you cut meat,lemons or onions the color changes fast.Old carbon kitchen knives are all discolored.When I buy antique pocket knives,I admire the way the steel has changed color,it adds a little more character to the knife to me.Now I'm not saying I'd like to see my Sebenza with a blade like that.I guess its just something I've grown to like with antique carbon steel knives.
thanks
ford
 
remember the old case stuff..turned black baby..darn what an edge..JEHEEZZUSS help. I thaught thats what u were talkin about and I just now came bak to look sorry dude
 
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