4034?

X

xxkid123

Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
50
does anyone know if 4034SS is any good (mainly how well it takes an edge, and if it can hold it moderately)? i searched Google and found little about it. i know it's on the lower end of the knife scale, but that's about it. the 4034 i'm talking about is the one used by Taylor brands for Schrade, since i heard that they sometimes use the steel they claim it to be, yet it's a crappy version of it.
 
European standard 1.4034 is comparable to AISI 420. In other word: low end steel. No surprise considering it's Taylor Brands.
 
4034 steel is Krupp's version of W-Nr 1.4034 and DIN X46Cr13 steel, there's about 30 different names for it.
It's closer to 420J2 than 420. Medium carbon stainless steel. Quite stain resistance, but not much in the high performance edge department.
 
Thanks for the composition Zviad. You are the man for finding compositions, but I don't completely agree with your assessment of its performance.

According to your chart 4034 has a nominal 0.47% carbon and ~ 13.2% Cr. That puts it in the realm of 420HC, not 420J2.

420J2 has ~0.3% carbon.
420HC has ~ 0.45% carbon.

Not a high performance uber alloy, but better edge retention than 420J2.

I read a lot of dissing of Taylor brands products by people that don't have any of their knives.

I have read some positive comments from those who actually have Taylor Brands products. Apparently not all Taylor Brands knives are trash, even if they don't use uber steel.
 
I know this is a little old for the thread, but I found it in a search and wanted to add rather than post the same question. I recently bought a S&W S.W.A.T. with a serrated edge and it has 4034 steel marked on the blade. Never heard of that in steel and also did search in Google, which, led me here.

I got a hair sharp edge on it with my HF 1x30 belt sander and the operation works great for opening, better than my SOG. In fact, it's about as close to a switchblade without being a switch blade as I have seen.

At 24.00 on Amazon.com I seemed like something to "try out" Really, the only thing I don't like about it is the weight. A light weight pocket knife it is not. But the edge seems decent, but I know little about steels an knives as you experienced and educated souls do. I also saw a Boker Speedlock 3000 knife with this same steel listed for around 90.00 and it was made in Germany. S&W might make a funny knife with their name on it but surely Boker would not risk their reputation.
 
I've picked up 6 different Hammer Brand slipjoints over the past few months and have found them to be excellent. Hammer Brands is a Taylor Brand company. All 6 came with razor sharp blades out of the box, and all cost me less than $15 each. Their fit/finish is excellent with great walk/talk. I've been carrying one off and on for 2 months, and it has been mostly on as it has proven to be a very dependable knife, especially for the price!:thumbup::)
 
My friend has a schrade assisted opening knife marked 4034. It has some small rust spots on the blade edge. Is tis typical for 4034 steel??
 
Clark74 said:
My friend has a schrade assisted opening knife marked 4034. It has some small rust spots on the blade edge. Is tis typical for 4034 steel??
Click to expand...

According to the chemistry, no it should have high enough Cr content to be rather rust resistant. 12-14% I believe.

But I have had a few S&W's that have rusted. Also is it beadblasted? Taylor Cutlery likes to beadblast their blades.
 
Taylor Cutlery uses 4034 for a specific reason.It would be more expensive and meaningless to import a basic stainless steel like 420HC by Latrobe for Taiwan manufacturing when Krupp's 4034 in Germany is identical to it.4034 sharpens quick and delivers great cutting quality.If you're not slicing down loads of cardboard with it all day it holds a rather decent edge as an everyday knife steel.Regardless of opinion of 4034/420HC that's one thing Taiwan doesn't do...they won't use Chinese comparison steels.
 
i have seen cold steel use 4034ss in a folding kiridashi knife, in my opinion i have never really used 4034 so i don't know what that blade steel is like but i do understand that it is a low end blade steel
 
littlepotatoman said:
i have seen cold steel use 4034ss in a folding kiridashi knife, in my opinion i have never really used 4034 so i don't know what that blade steel is like but i do understand that it is a low end blade steel
Click to expand...
An hell of a way to make an entrance
 
This thread needs to get ressurected, you must wonder why?

Well, because according to Lynn Thompson the 4034 steel is awesome choice for large fixed blades.

So good that Cold Steel announced Trail Master, Recon Scout, Natchez Bowie and even Gurkha Kukri in A2 steel.
 
Please let this one RIP.....again. I would buy a Rough Rider before I would try one in this steel. Most of RR are 440A. I would like to try a carbon RR, the utility knife, the one which looks like a Sodbuster, and has a liner lock but is usually out of stock.
 
🥺Sorry for the necromancy , but I'm curious if there is any new information that might give some hope for this steel being used in large , hard use type knives .

Specifically , it appears that the "New" Cold Steel has a lot of their classic BAK coming out in 4034SS now . Even the Gurkha Kukri and Warcraft .

Everything I can find seems to indicate that this is not a very good steel for such knives . Not very tough , especially .

Is there any reason to hope this will be anything but a low end / cheap steel choice for big choppers ? :confused:

I'm trying to understand this choice of steel for this application . Seems very wrong .

Disappointing for this old time fan of Cold Steel .
 
DocJD said:
🥺Sorry for the necromancy , but I'm curious if there is any new information that might give some hope for this steel being used in large , hard use type knives .

Specifically , it appears that the "New" Cold Steel has a lot of their classic BAK coming out in 4034SS now . Even the Gurkha Kukri and Warcraft .

Everything I can find seems to indicate that this is not a very good steel for such knives . Not very tough , especially .

Is there any reason to hope this will be anything but a low end / cheap steel choice for big choppers ? :confused:

I'm trying to understand this choice of steel for this application . Seems very wrong .

Disappointing for this old time fan of Cold Steel .
Click to expand...
From what I can tell, it is very similar to 420HC, so toughness should be pretty good
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top