Category: Steel and Knife Properties
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Knife Steel – Can You Tell the Difference?
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Video
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Can You Even Tell the Difference?
MagnaMax Is Here: The Next Evolution in Knife Steel
Background
MagnaMax has been in development for a long time. When I first proposed the idea for MagnaCut to Crucible and Niagara in June 2019 I also proposed a high wear resistance version I was calling “stainless 10V.” This version was intended to match the combination of toughness and wear resistance in the non-stainless grades K390, Vanadis 8, and CPM-10V. K390 has developed some popularity in recent years from Spyderco using it in many knives. This steel hits a real sweet spot for having good toughness with very high wear resistance. That high wear resistance gives it excellent edge retention. MagnaMax achieves that same level of toughness and edge retention but with the same excellent corrosion resistance of MagnaCut. MagnaMax achieves these properties by using the same general approach to composition as MagnaCut while increasing carbon, niobium, and vanadium for wear resistance. We are still waiting for the ok from our patent lawyer before releasing the composition, but that will hopefully come soon. The first commercial “heat” of MagnaMax has been delivered to a few knife companies, so it is time to talk about the steel, even if we can’t reveal every detail yet.
Testing Erasteel MagnaCut (vs Crucible Original)
Crucible, Niagara, Erasteel, and MagnaCut
In case you haven’t been following steel news, Crucible Steel went through a bankruptcy and no longer exists. I interviewed Bob Shabala of Niagara Specialty Metals about this transition several months ago. Niagara is the company that purchased ingots from Crucible and would hot roll, anneal, and distribute them to knife companies and steel suppliers. They have also recently started a new online store to better sell directly to individual knifemakers. Niagara has managed to keep production going for a wide range of Crucible (and other) knife steels, including:
Is Straightening with a Carbide Hammer Dangerous?
Patreon
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Knife Broke with CPM-3V! Isn’t it a Tough Steel? (Q&A Video)
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Testing Tamahagane – Traditional Japanese Steel
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I Made a Knife in Japan! (With Tamahagane Steel)
Corrosion Resistance vs Hardness in Knife Steels
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Video
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CPM-3V – Still the Best High Toughness Steel
Still working on getting an update to everyone about the status of knife steel after Crucible’s bankruptcy and the sale of many of the assets to Erasteel. Still more i’s to dot and t’s to cross.
Crucible Steel is Bankrupt! What is Next for MagnaCut?
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The Current Production Path for MagnaCut and CPM Steels
Those photos and drawings will help people understand ! Orientation – I was curious about what Crucible does with that .Their CPM goes to Niagra Metals for rolling and they cross roll the steel. Cut into squares and rolled alternating direction to minimize directional properties. I think Matt Gregory found that in his visit.
It would be interesting to test the transverse toughness of those steels for sure.