What is Rockwell hardness of Recon tanto sk5?

At least one online New Zealand retailer claims "a hardness near Rc 65." Not sure what they mean by that "near" business, or if it's accurate, but there you go. Sort of.
 
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The Rockwell hardness for Cold Steel SK5 steel typically ranges from 58 to 59 HRC, although some claims suggest it can reach up to 65 HRC under certain conditions. However, achieving such high hardness may lead to brittleness if not properly heat-treated. metalzenith.com bladeforums.com

Rockwell Hardness of Cold Steel SK5 Steel​

General Hardness Range​

  • Typical Hardness: SK5 steel is generally hardened to a Rockwell hardness of 58-59 HRC.
  • Maximum Hardness: It can potentially reach up to 65 HRC, but this is not common for practical applications.

Implications of Hardness​

  • 58-59 HRC: This hardness level provides a good balance of toughness and edge retention, making it suitable for various cutting tools and knives.
  • 65 HRC: While this maximum hardness can enhance edge retention, it may also lead to increased brittleness, which can affect the durability of the blade.

Conclusion​

The Cold Steel SK5 knives, such as the SRK model, are typically designed to operate within the 58-59 HRC range for optimal performance.
metalzenith.com bladeforums.com
 
I read 64Hrc too (63- 65). I have 1095 Mora on 59 and think that this is close to real hardness. But i had Benchmade Cruwear on 64 and honestly, recon tanto cut like this( Benchmade was on 15 degree). Again i think it's 59 but wouldn't suprised if it's 64Hrc :-)
 
zorandjurkic said:
I read 64Hrc too (63- 65). I have 1095 Mora on 59 and think that this is close to real hardness. But i had Benchmade Cruwear on 64 and honestly, recon tanto cut like this( Benchmade was on 15 degree). Again i think it's 59 but wouldn't suprised if it's 64Hrc :-)
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I'd be surprised. getting sk5 that hard would make it very chippy and brittle and people tend to beat up cold steels. it'd be nonstop warranty claims. I can't see them doing that on purpose when the lower hrc is good enough.
 
~64 HRC would be the as-quenched hardness before tempering. Final hardness after temper would be in the 50's; one would hope the high 50's.

It's been my experience that Cold Steel advertising department frequently wrote overly expansive descriptions.
 
After the SK5 SRK’s came out there were reports of unusual failures. That struck me as odd because for years other older SK5 models like the Bushman had reputations for being tough as nails, near unbreakable. Makes you wonder, since going harder (a.k.a. Rc64!) would almost assuredly result in lower toughness and easier breakage. It does seem hard to believe though they would leave them in that state intentionally, especially for anything intended for “hard use”. Chef’s knives maybe.

Independent testing is the only way to know for sure what they really are. TBH, that’s probably true for more than just CS as well.
 
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