Opinions on CPM Cru-Wear

Anderdale

Anderdale

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Nov 21, 2015
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Has anyone used this steel much that could comment on the corrosion resistance? Most places I've looked has stated that it is not a stainless steel. However, I am looking into purchasing a knife and the description of the blade steel is "cpm cruwear stainless steel". I figure this is just a typo but it has me wondering about the steel before I make the purchase.

Is Cru-wear similar to m4 or d2 in corrosion resistance? Does a lot of it depend on the heat treat? Overall opinion of the steel as a edc/tactical blade? Any other comments?

Thanks !
 
Resistance to corrosion is found when the Stainless steel, (a family of alloy steels), contains a minimum of 10-1/2% chromium. As you can see from the Spyderco data below, Cru-Wear contains only 7 1/2 %, so is not officially a "stainlesss" steel. However, it still is fairly resistant to corrosion and by some decent upkeep and drying the blade when wet, and perhaps a drop of oil occasionally...you should be pretty happy. Owners seem to be very happy with their Cru-Wear knives.
Ankerson's tables of cutting efficiency (rope, cardboard, wood) show that Cru-wear can perform very well when the blade is fashioned by a good custom maker like Phil Wilson, although Ankerson's testing of a stock Military in Cru-Wear did not rank very well. Link to Ankerson data is at bottom of post...

I borrowed this from the Spyderco website.
Cru-Wear®

Carbon (C) 1.10 Chromium (Cr) 7.50
Cobalt (Co) -- Niobium (Nb) --
Copper (Cu) -- Manganese (Mn) --
Molybdenum (Mo) 1.60 Nickel (Ni) --
Nitrogen (N) -- Phosphorus (P) --
Silicon (Si) -- Sulphur (S) --
Tungsten (W) 1.15 Vanadium (V) 2.40

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...based-on-Edge-Retention-cutting-5-8-quot-rope
 
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I've had my Manix for quite some time and it barely has a hint of a patina. I lent it to a friend to get him hooked on Spyderco, (it worked). I got it back after about two months. I told him to use it like any of his own knives. He indeed did, cut everything and did no more than wipe off the blade. It had a few tiny rust spots starting around the pivot. Cleaned up in seconds and have not returned. I find it super easy to sharpen and holds a great edge.
 
spyderg said:
I've had my Manix for quite some time and it barely has a hint of a patina. I lent it to a friend to get him hooked on Spyderco, (it worked). I got it back after about two months. I told him to use it like any of his own knives. He indeed did, cut everything and did no more than wipe off the blade. It had a few tiny rust spots starting around the pivot. Cleaned up in seconds and have not returned. I find it super easy to sharpen and holds a great edge.
Click to expand...

My experience with it mirrors this.
I have a Millie and a Manix with Cruwear and I love the steel! Takes a stupid sharp edge and hold it well! No rust or patina on either......but I wipe them down after use.
Joe
 
My experience with Cruwear has only been positive (Manix2). Every now and then I see some thing that looks like a spot of rust but it always wipes right off. No staining like M4. Gets really sharp. Edge holding seems good, but not ground breaking. I love this knife so much I must include a pic!

28695098061_8c62dad7b2_h.jpg
 
Anderdale said:
Has anyone used this steel much that could comment on the corrosion resistance? Most places I've looked has stated that it is not a stainless steel. However, I am looking into purchasing a knife and the description of the blade steel is "cpm cruwear stainless steel". I figure this is just a typo but it has me wondering about the steel before I make the purchase.

Is Cru-wear similar to m4 or d2 in corrosion resistance? Does a lot of it depend on the heat treat? Overall opinion of the steel as a edc/tactical blade? Any other comments?

Thanks !
Click to expand...

Yes it depends on the heat treatment

That will determine how much carbon and chromium are locked up in carbides

but its stiil going to rust in high humidity and have slight reactiveness with acidicss

Should be like m4ish maybe better, idk

I can't tell between D2, M4

They all rust here

But not as bad as 1095,52100, 5160, etc
 
Thanks for the excellent info everyone! Going to go ahead and go forth with the knife. Looking forward to it!
 
Use a Cruwear Millie all the time..it has some stains but never had any problems with rust.

It's very similar to 3V so that means it has the close to the same toughness 3V is famous for..

4vFeFvy.jpg
 
ToxicBot11 said:
It's very similar to 3V so that means it has the close to the same toughness 3V is famous for. Use a Cruwear Millie all the time..

4vFeFvy.jpg
Click to expand...

Maybe a bit less toughness due to the higher carbon content. But still a good steel. I remember Jerry Busse talking about cruwear and vascowear. He had played with both. I remember vascowear being a pain, but do not remember having used much cruwear if any. :confused: I forgot what I don't remember
 
Excellent steel!

Same family as:

Z-wear/PD-1/3V/

The "royal" family of blade steels for people who really like to use their knives.
 
I only have it on my Manix, but it took a great edge with little work, and took a hell of a polish easily. The corrosion resistance seems decent, better than M4 (which actually took a wee bit of maintenance to stop from spotting). I won't say it is like a stainless, because I haven't had any real rust testing, but no spotting in humid Indiana is good news.
 
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