Case switching to 1095

[Obsessed with Edges]

"in fact Case’s Chrome Vanadium is a custom blend of 1095 steel." That is the first time I have ever seen Case state publicly what steel they actually use. OH

That's what Case has stated, albeit very infrequently, on their own Case Collectors Club (CCC) forum. One needs to be a paid member to access it. I've been a member of CCC since the mid-90s or so, and I've had to really hunt on their forum to find such tidbits of information. I've always found it strange that they never seemed to specify the same in a more public manner. But now they have, it seems.

The obvious difference between 1095 and the 'custom blend of 1095' in CV would at least have to be the addition of chromium and vanadium in small amounts, which aren't a standard part of the simple 1095 recipe. Don't know if they've tweaked it otherwise. Vanadium, in very small amounts, is known to improve grain refinement in steel. I'll be curious to know if their new 1095 blades come away from this with the same very fine-grained character that I've noticed in their CV blades. Schrade seemed to handle 1095 very well, supposedly without the addition of chromium or vanadium. So, with the right 'smarts' behind Case's 1095 production, maybe it'll be doable in their house too. I'll stay optimistic, looking forward.

 

[VikingM13]

I'd certainly buy a few more Case knives if 1095 was an option (...and if they could figure out how to consistently align their blades...)

I bought their pilot test run trapper in 1095 that dropped in September. I can’t help but wonder if that run was to see how the consumer base would respond to them using this steel on a permanent basis.

 

[kvaughn]

I've always been a big fan of Schrades 1095.
It's a proven steel.

 

[knarfeng]

This would be a good time for Frank knarfeng to step in.

Howdy,
Not absolutely sure what Case has been using for "CV" steel recently, but the common take was that was a custom batch of 1095 modified with small amounts of chromium and vanadium, hence "CV".

Historically, Case has used both modified 1085 and modified 1095. Some years ago I was given electronic copies of certs for Case CV from 1958 and 1968 by BF member Steve Pfeiffer, author of the book, "Collecting Case Knives". I discussed the certs in this thread:

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/certs-for-cv-steel-for-wr-case.958884/

The certs do not show any modifications of a standard 1000 series carbon steel beyond additions of Chromium and Vanadium. (In those concentrations, Chromium improves hardening and Vanadium serves to produce a finer grained steel. The finer grained steel will be tougher at a given hardness than steel with coarser grain structure.)

Like David, Obsessed with Edges , I have seemed to notice that CV steel does take a particularly fine edge, even compared to that of my knives in standard 1095.

 

[dsutton24]

That's funny. Call it CV and the Case fans buy it like mad. Call it 1095, and the 1095 guys will buy it and proclaim it to be superior. Call it Balthorium G and Dr. Strangelove will buy it. Who says we're immune to marketing jargon?

 

[brownshoe]

Calling it CV allows them to substitute in any steel and makes it seem the same and special/better.

Calling it 1095 is a marketing move since 1095 has gotten so populr, plus 1095 is probably cheaper and available from a variety of suppliers as standard stock.

 

[afishhunter]

I'm sure it is much cheaper than other options, which probably figures into their business model.
They obviously have the ability to use higher end tool steels and fancier stainless stuff, but then the price point increases too.
Maybe some day we will see more runs of the high end stuff outside of the Bose Collaborations.

The higher end tool steels are harder on the machinery, which also increases their costs. It isn't just the cost of the steel.
Other than the large fixed blades, I doubt the average Case CV or SS folder has over a dollar or two in the cost of steel. They buy in bulk, probably tons at a time, which lowers their cost considerably.

 

[Hickory n steel]

With so many better steels out there (e.g., 3V) . . . 1095 must be cheap as hell.

To some people it doesn't really get any better than 1095.
I'm sure cost is a factor, but a lot of people buying CV Case knives aren't exactly knife nuts and they probably wouldn't embrace a raise in cost for a supposed benefit they didn't ask for and might not even notice anyways.

I imagine a lot of CV Case users are stubborn like me and not willing to embrace any modern " advancements " in their traditional pocket knives.

The contemporary knife nut isn't exactly Case's target market most of the time, they generally cater to people who just need a good pocket knife or want to display their shiny mirror polished SS Case knives.

 

[mbkr]

Keeping in mind I'm a fairly light user, I've found Case's cv to be comparable to GEC's 1095, so I don't see the change to 1095 as either good or bad. True Sharp is also fine for my uses, but I find that Buck's 420hc holds an edge longer.

 

[Ironbut]

I'm sure it is much cheaper than other options, which probably figures into their business model.
They obviously have the ability to use higher end tool steels and fancier stainless stuff, but then the price point increases too.
Maybe some day we will see more runs of the high end stuff outside of the Bose Collaborations.

Yeah, I like my Case CV knives & my 1095 GEC's, but the Case/Bose collabs have me kinda spoiled.