All About Pocket Knives

I am always wondering if a knife that was bought many years ago, will have the same heat treating as the same knife that can be bought today.

I understand there are many new steels used today, just want to know if i buy the same knife today with the same type steel, will it have the same quality of heat treating as the older knife or will it be better?

I have read about one manufacturer upgrading their heat treating process but I read that so long ago that I don’t remember who it was.

Interesting question.

Same here i also veiwed a Microtech video that had them doing there own heat treating, thats something i want to know today if they are still doing their own HTing.

Back when i was involved with materials needing to be heat treated not knife blades, unless you had the exclusive use of the HT Furance, the heat treater put you stuff in with other peoples materials if the heat treating called for was some what close, you have to require the HT chart or be there yourself to see what was really done to your materials.

Again, interesting question. I also remember reading about modern heat treatment
but can't remember the specifics. I think someone will come along soon.
Probably a complicated answers. Some manufacturers may want to do good
and some from China may want to get it made the fastest and cheapest way possible.

Bob

The physics of any given type of steel haven’t changed. Many if not most of the knife manufacturers have though, to the extent that most are no longer in business, and neither are the makers of the steels that were used. “Many years ago” is a vague statement. 100 years ago? 20 years?” Or, ?

Modern steels require modern heat treatment, like cryogenics for example. Which is one reason some companies (GEC, etc) stick with the older more”traditional” steel. Today’s steel makers have done extensive research and testing of their products, and provide their customers with data sheets telling how to heat treat each of the steels they sell, to achieve maximum performance. All they need to do is follow that steel maker’s “recipe”. As I understand it that hasn’t changed in over 100 years, at least.

I recommend Jay Fisher’s web site for that sort of information. https://www.jayfisher.com/Heat_Treating ... Steels.htm

Ken

A while back i bought a Cold Steel War Hawk small Axe this Ake uses AISI 1055 Carbon Steel, i have no idea how the Taiwan Mfg. does the heat treating to the Axe i paid $35 US dollars for but i have found that the blade really holds it's edge i have given it a lot of hard testing choping on old dead tree limbs and no matter how hard i chop the blade shows no sign of chipping and remains razor sharp.

There are so many older knives and Axes that keep using the older steels like small example are 1055 420 D2 and 1095.

I have a Schrade 55 fixed blade knife that uses 1095 High Carbon Non stainless Steel it's simple to keep sharp and holds it's edge very well think i paid $35 US dollars for it, there now out of production.

So if one wants a tool that is less costly and simple to sharpen with a common oil stone, the older Steels are a great choice for your knife and Axes.

I also have a few knives that use the newer Super Steels like M390 Steel Microtech and Benchmade along with many other knife makers use this quality steel.

The new super Steels they do have many advantages over the older Steels, but they do require more care and work in sharpening knives.