Chinese "stainless," what is it?

D

dogstar

Joined
Jan 23, 2011
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I just purchased my first knife that was unspecified "stainless" steel. In terms of edge retention and sharpenability, it seems a grade below 420HC, 4116, and 440a.
What could it be? 420J2? 3CR13? 4034?

Thanks in advance!
 
dogstar said:
I just purchased my first knife that was unspecified "stainless" steel. In terms of edge retention and sharpenability, it seems a grade below 420HC, 4116, and 440a.
What could it be? 420J2? 3CR13? 4034?

Thanks in advance!
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My best guess would be a 3, 5, or 7CR series. I actually like 9CR18MOV for a good work knife.
 
Yeah, what Shane said^.

It's impossible to know. Could be melted down kitchen sinks, cooking pots, forks and spoons.

If it were anything of quality I imagine they would want people to know and mark the blade accordingly.
 
killgar said:
Yeah, what Shane said^.

It's impossible to know. Could be melted down kitchen sinks, cooking pots, and flatware.

If it were anything of quality I imagine they would want people to know and mark the blade accordingly.
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It is a usable knife, so it's not pot metal.
 
3fifty7 said:
D dogstar
What brand and model did you buy ?
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Bundeswehr MI220 (Glock Field Knife Knockoff)

Given how much people here get triggered by the actual Glock Field Knife, this should be interesting. Long story short, it's a cheap Chinese copy of an already cheap military knife. I got it because I can't find the real deal at the moment. In some sense, it is what most would expect: junk...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
JAF1973 said:
My best guess would be a 3, 5, or 7CR series. I actually like 9CR18MOV for a good work knife.
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jbmonkey said:
id doubt its a 400 series, 4116, 4034. as these would have to be imported, last I looked. id bet its a 3cr type..maybe as good as 7cr. doubt much better than the 7cr. chances are its a domestic steel made in china that is easy to get.
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So far I think 3CR is the most likely candidate. In that case I will avoid any 3CR knives (maybe ;) )
 
I agree with most others that it's likely 3CR or 7CR at best for a cheap no-name knockoff.
In the 1990s some knives made in China used imported low end Japanese steel like 420j2.
But after 2000 or so as the Chinese steel industry started to produce domestic steels that
were cheaper. On a cheap no-name copy model it's unlikely to be any imported steel.
 
As others have said, 3Cr13 is the usual culprit. To give you an idea, that's the "stainless steel" used in a lot of the $5 Ozark Trail knives from Walmart. That's convenient because it is often the same steel as is used to make liners or the bodies of steel frame locks. They might set it apart from handle material with a basic heat treatment but the edge retention will always be relatively poor. It could also be 420 or even 2Cr.

While it could be something totally unsuited to use as a blade steel, such as 18/8, it usually isn't. Coincidentally, the big scam with those Husk "traditional", "Japanese", "kitchen knives" is that they are made of such a steel. The irony is that they actually say so on the box. 😯

While it could be 5Cr15 or 7Cr17Mov, it probably isn't. I still see those steels advertised as selling points in both very cheap knives and in knives sold at Walmart, from CRKT to the Chinese-made Bucks. Of course, neither of those steels is good relative to the current budget market. The lowest member of that series that is actually good is 9Cr18Mov. Companies almost always advertise when using 9Cr18Mov but strangely, BladeHQ lists knives in 9Cr18Mov as "stainless steel" on their website.
 
Chronovore said:
As others have said, 3Cr13 is the usual culprit. To give you an idea, that's the "stainless steel" used in a lot of the $5 Ozark Trail knives from Walmart. That's convenient because it is often the same steel as is used to make liners or the bodies of steel frame locks. They might set it apart from handle material with a basic heat treatment but the edge retention will always be relatively poor. It could also be 420 or even 2Cr.

While it could be something totally unsuited to use as a blade steel, such as 18/8, it usually isn't. Coincidentally, the big scam with those Husk "traditional", "Japanese", "kitchen knives" is that they are made of such a steel. The irony is that they actually say so on the box. 😯

While it could be 5Cr15 or 7Cr17Mov, it probably isn't. I still see those steels advertised as selling points in both very cheap knives and in knives sold at Walmart, from CRKT to the Chinese-made Bucks. Of course, neither of those steels is good relative to the current budget market. The lowest member of that series that is actually good is 9Cr18Mov. Companies almost always advertise when using 9Cr18Mov but strangely, BladeHQ lists knives in 9Cr18Mov as "stainless steel" on their website.
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Ah, I didn't know there is a 2Cr13 steel. My sample could very well be that. Well, that would make it around the 50-52 HRC range if it were 2Cr. Machete range. Yippee!
 
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