Description

American version of M390, virtually identical composition. Crucible's answer to European super-steels. Excellent all-around premium performance.

Properties

Edge Retention
9.0/10
Corrosion Resistance
8.0/10
Toughness
5.0/10
Ease of Sharpening
4.0/10

Chemical Composition

C
1.90%
Carbon
Cr
20.00%
Chromium
Mo
1.00%
Molybdenum
V
4.00%
Vanadium
W
0.60%
Tungsten

✓ Pros

Performance equivalent to M390 with USA availability. Excellent edge retention. Outstanding corrosion resistance. Good hardness potential. Increasingly popular.

✗ Cons

Premium pricing. Difficult to sharpen. Moderate toughness. Grinds slowly. Newer steel with less track record.

Grinding Notes

Grinding characteristics identical to M390. Ceramic belts required. Slow stock removal. High belt consumption. Cool grinding essential.

Polishing Notes

Takes excellent polish. High chromium provides bright finish. PM structure ensures uniformity. Popular for premium folder finishes.