Why is 12C27 Good?

[Korean Hog]

I think it is good because it is very easy for me to get it very sharp.

I like that property in a steel.

Falling in love with 1095 heat treated to 55-57 all over again for that very reason.
It doesn't hold a razor edge for a long time but it is so much fun to sharpen easy to sharpen steel.

 

[J. Hoffman]

I have been using it as a less expensive stainless option. It performs nicely. Its not a super steel, but very serviceable and priced right.

 

[JokersFaceLifter]

heat treatment really is everything, an expert heat treated 440c cuts like an 154cm, imagine what an expertly heat treated 12C27 can do
same to be said in reverse for poorly heat treated super steels, a poorly heat treated S35VN will cut like pot metal

 

[dirc]

working at a steel mill, I can say for certain cleanliness of the steel makes a really big practical impact
(even tiny inconsistent amounts of sulphur and phosphorus etc make a huge impact in hurting steel performance)

but yes, heat treatment is the biggest single factor
steel composition & cleanliness & consistency (accuracy of formulation) is also required to get something excellent

this is why 12c27 is still used as the most popular (by volume I expect) blade steel
mora uses it (huge volume)
opinel uses it (also quite huge in Eu)
helle uses it (pretty big in Eu)
the best 'value' models in many Chinese brands use it: artisan cutlery biome, the good quality boker multi-tool/saks, bestech spike & thorn & beluga

 

[Smiling]

working at a steel mill, I can say for certain cleanliness of the steel makes a really big practical impact
(even tiny inconsistent amounts of sulphur and phosphorus etc make a huge impact in hurting steel performance)

but yes, heat treatment is the biggest single factor
steel composition & cleanliness & consistency (accuracy of formulation) is also required to get something excellent

this is why 12c27 is still used as the most popular (by volume I expect) blade steel
mora uses it (huge volume)
opinel uses it (also quite huge in Eu)
helle uses it (pretty big in Eu)
the best 'value' models in many Chinese brands use it: artisan cutlery biome, the good quality boker multi-tool/saks, bestech spike & thorn & beluga

Even Boker Plus, Real Steel and other brands are using more and more of 12C17 and 14C28N which is another Sandvik steel.

 

[marthinus]

I remember a few years ago before diamonds were readily available locally (South Africa) and Lansky sharpening system was the be all end all a maker was running 12C27 close to 60HRC with LN quench etc.

He had so many complaints about it being too hard to sharpen.

How times have changed.