just tested a couple of well known name brand factory knives using Japanese-made testing files. they were testing at about 55 - two questions - are these testing files reliably accurate and if so is 55 rockwell acceptable for a mid-level price factory blade ( want to avoid any specific brand names ) anyone have some knowledge regarding this ?
hardness testing files
- Thread starter victoroni
- Start date
Drew Riley
Well-Known Member
They’ll get you in the ballpark, but they’re really no substitute for an actual tester.
Mid 50s hrc on a production piece doesn’t surprise me.
Mid 50s hrc on a production piece doesn’t surprise me.
EdCaffreyMS
"The Montana Bladesmith"
As Drew said.... the files are a "ballpark" thing. You have to remember when dealing with ANY production knife/knives, they operate from a totally different perspective then custom knifemakers. Production knife companies operate off the term "acceptable quality level".... meaning the are the ones who determine exactly what is considered "acceptable quality"..... which means with some companies tolerance for "acceptable quality" can be tight, and with others wildly erratic.
Production knives as a general rule, use the cheapest of everything that will meet their minimum standards. That's not knocking them....it's simply a fact of being production companies, where profit versus costs is the defining factor in everything they do, including how tight they maintain quality control. Cheaper steels, cheaper handle materials, cheaper/mass quantity heat treating...... you get the idea. So, as Drew said... mid 50s RC on a factory knife is not surprising at all.