There are many steel grades found in the world; 65mn is one of them. Some of you may already know about 65mn steel. If you are unaware of 65mn steel, this guide is for you. In this guide, I’ll explain the chemical composition of 65mn steel, the properties of 65mn steel, and almost everything about 65mn steel.
Let’s start with an in-depth review of the 65mn steel.
Table of Contents
What is 65mn steel?
65mn is one of the hard steels that come from China. It is a Chinese GB standard spring steel alloy that is mainly used in making knives and machete knives, round springs, small-section flat springs, and clockwork.
65mn steel can also be used in the making of valve springs, clutch reeds, spring rings, shock absorbers, and brake springs. 65mn offers good wear resistance, great edge-retention, and hardness to the knives and other tools. However, it is not good in terms of corrosion resistance.
65mn steel chemical composition
The elements included in the 65mn steel are used for different purposes and have different features. The elements which are included in the 65mn steel grade are as follows:
1% of Manganese: Increases hardness and brittleness.
| Elements |
Percentage(%) |
Features |
| Manganese |
1 |
Manganese increases the steel’s hardness and brittleness. |
| Carbon |
0.65 |
It increases the wear resistance, hardness, and corrosion resistance of the steel. However, a high amount of carbon can decrease the strength of the steel. |
| Silicon |
0.3 |
Silicon improves the steel’s strength. |
| Chromium |
0.20 |
It increases edge retention, strength and enhances corrosion resistance. And wear resistance of the seel. |
| Sulfur |
0.03 |
Sulfur increases the machinability of the steel. |
| Phosphorus |
0.04 |
It increases the steel’s strength. |
As you can see, the 65mn steel has a mixture of Chromium, Carbon, and Manganese, which makes it a spring alloy. Moreover, it has very low chromium (only 0.20%), which means it is not stainless steel. Therefore, 65mn is considered Carbon steel, not stainless steel.
Rockwell hardness of 65mn steel
65mn steel has amazing wear resistance, hardness, and edge retention. It is hard steel, and it comes with a Rockwell hardness of 28-34 HRC. This Rockwell hardness is a bit low, but in contrast, 65mn steel is extremely sturdy and won’t break easily.
Properties of 65mn Steel
According to the HRC and chemical composition of the 65mn steel; it offers some amazing properties, which are as follows:
- 65mn steel has good edge retention because it is hard steel.
- This steel has 0.65% of carbon, which means it offers a good wear resistance.
- 65mn steel has a mixture of Manganese, Carbon, and Chromium; steel has great toughness due to this.
As 65mn steel has a lot of good features, but it has some weak points as well. Some of the weak points are as follows:
- 65mn steel has a low percentage of Chromium (only 0.20%), which makes it not good steel for corrosion resistance.
- Also, 65mn is a bit difficult to sharpen because it is hard steel. As a rule, the harder the steel, the harder to sharpen it.
Is 65mn steel good for Knives?
Yes, 65mn steel is good for knives.
65mn steel offers great wear resistance, toughness, and edge retention properties, which makes it a good option for EDC and batoning knives. However, 65mn steel knives are not good for wet environments because of their low corrosion resistance. So, if you are a chef, a hunter, or a fisherman, I would not recommend a 65mn steel knife.
65mn steel Best Knives
There are many knives available in the market which are made of 65mn steel. In this section, I will review some of the popular and best knives of 65mn steel.
1. Kershaw Camp 10 (1077)
Kershaw camp 10 is a perfect camping knife. The knife features a 10-inch blade that is made with 65mn carbon steel, which is hard enough to handle difficult tasks. 65mn offers amazing wear resistance, great toughness, and good edge retention to the knife’s blade.
Moreover, the blade of the knife is finished with a black powder coat that adds more toughness and easier blade maintenance. However, the knife doesn’t have a lot of corrosion resistance, so it is recommended to oil and clean after usage to keep it in perfect condition.
It comes with a full tang handle that is wrapped in a non-slip rubber over-mold. The handle offers a secure contoured grip. The feature I like most about this knife is that it comes with a built-in handguard at the front and lanyard holes at the backside of the knife. Moreover, it also comes with a molded sheath which makes it more appealing.
Kershaw camp 10 is perfectly designed for hard use applications such as removing tough vines, clearing brush, small tree removal, and stripping bark. So, if you are a landscaper, hunter, survivalist, trail maintenance crew, or any other person who needs a high-performance knife, this knife will be the perfect choice for you.
2. 41” 65MN Spring Steel Samurai Sword Katana
This Samurai Sword Katana comes with a 41-blade that is made with 65mn carbon stainless steel. The Katana’s blade is hand forged and comes sharp, which makes it perfect for cosplay outdoor camping.
Moreover, the weight of the sword is light which makes it the best choice for role play, costume, and dress-up accessory. Its satisfaction guarantee makes it more appealing. You can use it as a split kindling, spearhead, make tent pegs, or cut small branches. If you are an adventurer, this Katana will be the best choice for you.
Comparison of 65mn steel with the Other Steels
In this part, I will compare the 65mn steel with some other steel. For this, I will create comparison tables so you can quickly understand which steel is better than other steel. I’ll rate some elements on a scale from 1 to 10.
65mn steel vs. 1095 steel
|
65mn steel |
1095 steel |
|
| Edge retention |
5/10 |
3/10 |
| Stainless steel |
Non-stainless |
Non-stainless |
| Ease of Sharpness |
4/10 |
7/10 |
| Rockwell Hardness |
28-34 HRC |
55 HRC |
| Toughness |
8/10 |
8/10 |
| Corrosion Resistance |
3/10 |
3/10 |
65mn and 1095 both steel alloys are very close in terms of corrosion resistance and toughness. However, 65mn steel has better edge retention, and in contrast, 1095 steel is easy to sharpen.
65mn vs. 8cr13mov
|
65mn steel |
8cr13mov steel |
|
| Edge retention |
5/10 |
1/10 |
| Stainless steel |
Non-stainless |
Yes |
| Ease of Sharpness |
4/10 |
8/10 |
| Rockwell Hardness |
28-34 HRC |
62 HRC |
| Toughness |
8/10 |
6/10 |
| Corrosion Resistance |
3/10 |
6/10 |
8cr13mov steel is better in terms of ease of sharpness, Rockwell hardness, and corrosion resistance. On the other side, 65mn is better in terms of edge retention and toughness.
65mn steel equivalent
65mn is high carbon steel that is very close to the 5160 steel. 65mn steel has almost the same chemical composition as 5160 steel. Both of these steels have a mixture of Chromium, Manganese, and Carbon in their composition. 65mn and 5160 both steel grades offer good strength and hardness. Moreover, both steel fall in the same price range.
Conclusion
65mn is one of the Chinese GB standard spring-steel alloys that is mainly used in making knives and machete knives. It is a good option for EDC and batoning knives.
To conclude here, if you are looking for tough and hard steel at a low price for your knife, the 65mn is a perfect choice. 65mn steel knives (especially big knives) give you surety that knives will do the tough tasks easily.
I wouldn’t recommend 65mn steel knives to those who wish to use their knife in a wet environment. This steel has low corrosion resistance because of the low percentage of chromium in its composition. Consider stainless steel knives if you want to use a knife in a wet environment.
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