8cr13mov Stainless Steel Review – How Good is 8cr13mov?

8cr13mov steel review

8cr13mov Steel Review

Since a wide range of knife steels are available, it can be challenging to figure out the best Steel to use. Kitchen knives, survival knives, and folding knives are commonly made from Chinese stainless steel grade 8Cr13MoV blade steel.

8CR13MoV Steel has good hardness and excellent performance for its price. Several factors associated with 8Cr13MoV Steel help it gain popularity in kitchen knives, such as its hardness, affordability, and ease of production.

What is 8cr13mov Steel?

8Cr13MoV is low-cost stainless Steel manufactured in China. It is part of the CR13 series. Carbon and chrome content are two of the Steel's key characteristics.

In Steels of this type, there are several mono and poly carbides, in addition to cementite, which contributes to high cutting and durability performance.

Comparing 8Cr13MoV to 3Cr13 and 5Cr15MoV, it has greater quenchability, but it has poor hardenability.

This Steel has been designed as an alternative to Japanese steel AUS-8, combined with a higher degree of carbon, and that is why both steels share the same properties. Steels such as this one, along with variations, have proven to be reliable and inexpensive.

How good is 8cr13mov stainless steel?

8cr13mov stainless steel

8cr13mov stainless steel

Chinese-made steel has become increasingly popular. But knife steel of Chinese origin may be stigmatized, preventing consumers from purchasing them.

Nevertheless, the origin of materials is no longer indicative of their quality, especially given the infiltration of Chinese-made materials into various products today.

In the case of 8Cr13MoV in particular, it has the upper hand over most other steels, primarily because of its simplicity of manufacture.

Let's keep this discussion short and straightforward by answering, is 8cr13mov steel good?

Yes, 8cr13mov stainless steel is a good choice for beginner knives or budget-conscious users. At a meager price, this steel is capable of maintaining edges, resisting corrosion, remaining hard, and resisting wear. Spyderco's 8Cr13MoV is an example where heat treatment can improve the material's performance and properties.

Pros

  • With ease, one can sharpen this steel.
  • The material is corrosion-resistant.
  • Maintainable with ease.
  • The most cost-effective option for Beginning.

Cons

  • The steel comes with a Made in China tag.
  • No protection against corrosion or rust.

Best 8cr13mov Knives

#1
spyderco tenacious 8cr13mov

Spyderco Tenacious Folding Utility Pocket Knife

Spyderco is a gold standard in the 8cr13mov steel field, and we expect nothing less from this Spyderco knife. With its durable construction and superior quality, you cannot go wrong with this blade. Many believe it holds steel edges well.

5 of 5 stars

#2
Kershaw Cryo 8Cr13MoV

Kershaw Cryo Pocket Knife 1555TI With 8Cr13MoV Steel Blade

A variety of different uses can be got from the folding construction made of steel. A knife like this is an excellent choice for hikers, explorers, technicians, and anyone else seeking a reliable carry knife. Some regular users have experienced long-term durability with the material and build quality.

4.5 of 5 stars

#3
kershaw 1830 oso sweet

Kershaw Brawler Folding Pocket Knife

This steel is made from top-quality Chinese steel, which is cost-effective, reliable, and easy to take care of. In the black oxide coating, magnetite is formed from a chemical bath of black oxide. Each handle scale has two steel plates or liners, which allow the blade to be safely and securely opened and prevent it from closing on its own. 

4 of 5 stars

8cr13mov Composition Breakdown

Material

Composition

Usage

Chromium

14.5%

Edge Retention

Manganese

1%

Hardness

Silicon

1%

Strength

Carbon

0.8%

Corrosion-Resistance

Vanadium

0.25%

Stainless

Molybdenum

0.3%

Mechanics

Nickel

0.2%

Toughness

Sulfur

0.04%

Machinability

Phosphorus

0.04%

   Wear Resistance

Mechanical Properties of 8cr13mov

For budget-conscious knife makers, 8cr13MoV has many good characteristics. Other steels with better performance are hard to find at this price.

Edge Retention

This steel has decent edge retention, which is one of its benefits. The material is more rigid, which makes it more retainable. Compared to the high-end steel, this steel doesn't maintain its edge as well, but it's still a decent performer at this price point.

Steel edge retention is determined by various factors, such as the hardness, toughness, geometry of the edge, blade grinding, and so on. The edge retention can also be seen as an amalgamation of various steel properties and, as such, can be somewhat subjective

Rust And Corrosion Resistance

There is excellent corrosion resistance in this stainless steel, as there is in all Cr13 steels. If not handled properly, the chromium on this steel can also oxidize or stain.

Keeping a knife dry is vital when using it. Do not let it sit in moisture for an extended period, despite being corrosion-resistant enough to keep up with most real-world applications and conditions.

Wear Resistance

8Cr13MoV has a high wear resistance due to the combination of chromium and Vanadium in its composition.

Ease of sharpening

In contrast to some knives with decent hardness, 8Cr13MoV sharpens relatively easily. 8cr13MoV, in comparison to many high-hardness steels, can be sharpened to a fantastic edge using a standard sharpening whetstone.

A minimal amount of Vanadium is added to steel to produce a carbide of Vanadium, which is incredibly hard and makes certain steels challenging to sharpen when added in large amounts. In this case, the volume of Vanadium in the steel is too great to ensure a good edge can be achieved.

Toughness

There is not much to complain about 8Cr13MoV toughness, as it can withstand a considerable amount of wear and tear without breaking or chipping. However, if exposed to rugged applications, the blade of a steel knife may break, so be careful. For everyday cutting tasks, use it as usual.

8cr13mov Rockwell Hardness

Money-conscious knife users will appreciate the steel because it offers several great features. A Rockwell Hardness of 62HRC indicates high hardness, leading to a knife with a sharper edge and improved wear resistance.

Blade steel made from 8Cr13MoV will possess varying hardness according to the manufacturing method that fabricated it.

Its hardness usually falls between 57 and 62 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale, providing enough hardness to guarantee sharp edges and wear resistance.

Knives for everyday carry usually have a hardness rating between 54 - 56; top-of-the-line knives are rated between 59 - 66.

In other words, higher hardness ratings don't always mean better. A more rigid material will have a lower toughness since the harder it is.

Toughness is required for maintaining edge durability and preventing chipping since hardness cannot sustain sharp edges. To put it simply, a blade made of too hard a material is susceptible to chipping.

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8cr13mov vs d2

Comparing 8Cr13MoV and D2, D2 is more costly. D2 is the knife you should get if you want something more expensive and sharper.

8CR13MoV is a good choice if you are looking for a cheap but tough knife. Edge retention and hardness are better in D2 than in 8Cr13MoV, but the corrosivity and price of D2 are higher.

8cr13mov FAQs

Kershaw 8cr13mov steel is good or bad?

Keshaw 8cr13mov is a good steel, With its affordable price and excellent cutting properties, Chinese steel from Kershaw is a widely available knife. Leek, Leek, Shallot, and Cryo are the most common knife designs from Kershaw and are great for regular use.

Conclusion - 8cr13mov Stainless Steel

If you want to buy super high-quality stainless steel that is harder, tougher, or more corrosion resistant than 8cr13MoV is not for you. For those who want a reasonably priced steel that can accomplish all of these things somewhat well, then you can pick 8cr13mov without a second thought. And for those looking to get entry-level EDC, camping, or hunting knives.

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