knife making question about Rockwell hardness

[Rookie]

Is 58.2 too hard?

 

[Bradsknives]

Is 58.2 too hard?

Not at all...... we are seeing 63 & 64 with some of the "super steels" being used now.

 

[Rookie]

This is regular 01...

 

[Bradsknives]

This is regular 01...

O1 is a high carbon tool steel....most high carbon steels used for knife blades will have a 57 to 59 (maybe as much as 60) hardness rating. I see no problem with 58.2 assuming you used a quality heat treat process.

 

[Rookie]

Thank you.

 

[rhino]

Rc hardness of 58.2 is about as low as I would prefer (as a user) for an O-1 edge.

Are you concerned about chipping or about the blade itself breaking? If you have the skilled, perhaps a differential heat treatment with the edge at your 58.2 Rc and the spine softer?

 

[PRasko]

O-1 spec is 57-61 RC, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[PRasko]

Here's a good read on O-1...

http://www.burgessknives.com/media/O-1.pdf