Kershaw Link or--Heat treatment...

D

Despotes9

Joined
Dec 31, 2023
Messages
7
Has anybody else heard that Kershaw uses a "soft" HT on their CPM 20CV blades? I know nothing of the quality of their HT in general.
I'm looking for an American made or at least not Chinese made 3-4" blade EDC knife for light to medium duty. High edge retention over toughness.
Also considering the Vosteed (Chinese? Taiwan?) Thunderbird (Elmax) A0313. I'll pay extra for something that is noticeably smoother than the Link. Maybe the ZT Hinderer 0562CF? ZT 0470 Dmitry Sinkevich?
Are there any objective tests to compare the actual heat treatments between manufacturers?

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I'm now leaning towards the Hogue Deka with Magncut steel. There was an issue with heat treatment that was sub par in their first runs of this model. Apparently, Hogue is now achieving the recommended hardness level for this steel now. Anybody else confirm this?
 
Despotes9 said:
Has anybody else heard that Kershaw uses a "soft" HT on their CPM 20CV blades? I know nothing of the quality of their HT in general.
I'm looking for an American made or at least not Chinese made 3-4" blade EDC knife for light to medium duty. High edge retention over toughness.
Also considering the Vosteed (Chinese? Taiwan?) Thunderbird (Elmax) A0313. I'll pay extra for something that is noticeably smoother than the Link. Maybe the ZT Hinderer 0562CF? ZT 0470 Dmitry Sinkevich?
Are there any objective tests to compare the actual heat treatments between manufacturers?

​

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I've never had a heat treatment issue with any of the couple dozen ZTs and several US made Kershaws. They also have a great warranty if you have any issues.
 
I have no problems with my Kershaw Link in 20CV. I have a Dividend in Magnacut that is also well done.

You can hear all sorts of silly comments on various boards and groups about pretty much every major manufacturer's heat treat. Bogus nonsense to make posters feel important and "knowledgeable". Such comments run counter to my hands-on experiences with knives from those companies.
 
American made and edge retention? I think spyderco will sell you American made maxamet.

Those houge dekas do look like nice knives. Kind of like a benchmade mixed with a CRK insigno shaped semi wharncliff blade in magnacut. I did hear they bumped their hrc up with magnacut. No idea, I don't own one. But would definitely pick one up.
 
I ordered a Hogue Deka with Magnacut Wharncliffe blade for cheap and it's in stock. We'll see how I like the scales. I'll just buy custom if I don't like them.
 
Despotes9 said:
I ordered a Hogue Deka with Magnacut Wharncliffe blade for cheap and it's in stock. We'll see how I like the scales. I'll just buy custom if I don't like them.
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I have one. For me, the scales suck little green toads. Slippery, and they hollowed them out, which throws off the balance of the knife and makes it blade heavy. Mine's waiting for me to buy custom scales before it will get any further carry time.
 
Monofletch said:
I gifted my son in law a 20cv Link years ago. He treats it like a tool and beats the hell out of that thing. I wouldn’t worry too much.
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My FIL beats on his as well. He picked up a green 20cv one, and didn't like the handle color, so I traded him a gray handle M390 one I had. He has been beating on it every since for a couple of years now. I have a gray handle Damascus version that I am quite fond of. I traded my FILs green handle version for something else, please don't tell him 😂
 
The plastic scales are very slippery and hard to hold while trying to flick the blade. Ordered the aluminum OG SKNY XL.
 
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