Keep it simple stupid… Most knife makers fall into the steel branding trap. In our opinion there are many great steels and almost all are great at what they were developed for. We want to avoid the business of “selling sizzle” and basically just offer great steak. All but a very select few steels are hardened and tempered to the same 57-61 Hrc for a final product that balances the 3 main things you assess when evaluating steel; hardness, toughness and abrasion/corrosion resistance. Raising all three traits is the goal because any over-focus on any single trait of the 3 comes at a cost to one or both of the remaining traits.
Strength of a knife can be affected by metallurgy AND geometry. We have designed these knives to balance the traits of a great knife and factor in one last thing…VALUE. Our designs use geometry to support our choice of steels and a world-class heat-treatment maximizes the properties all around.
We have chosen CPM S45VN for its qualities of strength, edge retention, toughness, predictability, thermal stability in manufacturing and the corrosion resistance needed for pocket carry near the sweat and moisture found in most pockets during the summer months. The steel is sourced and made in the USA. It is completely manufactured, ground and heat-treated in our Phoenix, AZ facility. There is no better choice without compromises. Military and government purchasers should inquire with the factory for large purchases that have unique environmental or metallurgical needs.
We have chosen 1095CrV steel for our fixed blade knives. It’s a modern version of basic 1095 steel with a bit of Vanadium and Chromium added for enhanced performance. These are designs that lend themselves well to ease of maintenance and care over the years to prevent corrosion. Light oiling is recommended. 1095CrV is easily sharpened in the field and serves warfighters and adventures very well for all types of field use, bushcraft and fire starting uses. The “Double Black Oxide” finish stabilizes the steel surface for years of reliable use and low-light reflectivity. 1095CrV use is the reason why this knife is not $200-300 MORE for the end user. 1095 was good enough to win 2 World Wars so its evolved big broth 1095CrV is more than good enough for your fighting position, camp site or Amazon packages.