Edge Retention, Heat Treating and Processing, History - Articles - Books, Toughness

Testing Chinese Knife Steel 8Cr13MoV/8Cr14MoV

Larrin

Thank you Patreon Supporters!

Thank you to my Patreon supporters who help make these studies happen. Patreon funds were used for purchasing two ultimately useless knives, and some steel. Patreon supporter Marcus Ho even sent me some steel all the way from China which also ended up not working out. And I used Patreon funds to pay Shawn Houston (also a Patreon supporter) to do microscopy and grind two CATRA knives for me. So when I say that Patreon makes the study happen I don’t mean in an abstract sense. If you want to help fund more knife steel research please come join us on Patreon where you can get articles and videos early. Or if you sign up for the highest tier you can even get a sweet Knife Steel Nerds mug. read more

Heat Treating and Processing, Toughness

How to Heat Treat K390

Larrin

You can help support more knife steel research like this by going to Patreon.com/KnifeSteelNerds

K390 Steel and Heat Treating Background

I already have a video and article about the history and properties of K390, which you can see here. K390 is a powder metallurgy non-stainless steel with high wear resistance due to very high vanadium, 9%. It is in a similar category to CPM-10V and Vanadis 8. read more

Austenitizing, Cryo, Damascus, Powder Metallurgy, Steel and Knife Properties

Damasteel Heat Treatment and Properties

Larrin

Thanks to the new Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters! The newly performed research in this article is all paid for through Patreon funds, such as the purchase of expensive Damasteel. Patreon money is only used for knife steel research. Sara Rempelos, Theo N, Christopher Kuehl, Dirk Hoogenbosch, Nick, nats spawnee, Krisztián Szegi, Todd Ellner, Seth V, Jonathan Graham, Ben Secrist, Drew Certain, Scott Armstuts, Ronald Justin Agee, Jim Darnall, Chris G, Farrell K., Bill Behnke, Paige, Luis Hernandez, clockworkfish, Barry Gordon, KarRawr, Ming Lin, Theodore Loach, Matt Bobchin, Flo, J.T. Pouland, Mark Watt, 愷麒 王, and Nickolay Matershev. read more

Damascus, Edge Retention, Toughness

Does Damascus Outperform Super Steels? Testing Different Combinations

Larrin

It’s been a while since I posted a full article, so there are a bunch of new Patreon supporters. Thanks to our new supporters Jack Hilton, David Heleander, KevinP, huck, Dd, C, Brian Fencil, Rick Steele, Leon Rodak, Kendal Thomas, The Madman, Michael Kelly, Allen Thomas, Jim Pickard, Linqian Chen, Matt Masuda, Nick Dunham, Fikes Lee, Timothy Becker, jmasinter, MakaBones, Will from Maine, and Charles. Please go to Patreon.com/KnifeSteelNerds if you want to be a supporter. Damascus is very expensive and this is one of the priciest studies I have ever done for Knife Steel Nerds. I spent several months and about $10,000 to do the following study. Without reservation, I can say this is the biggest study on the performance of pattern-welded Damascus that has ever been performed. Your support means we can do more studies on knife steel that would be unrealistically expensive otherwise. read more

History - Articles - Books

New Book! The Story of Knife Steel – Innovators Behind Modern Damascus and Super Steels

Larrin

This is the biggest project I have ever worked on, spending many, many hours to write the comprehensive tale about steel and knives. If you have ever wanted to learn more about the inner workings of the knife industry, this book is for you. Wherever possible I used firsthand accounts from metallurgists and knifemakers to explain why they innovated and how. I will give links to buy so they aren’t lost on the page and then I will explain more: read more