There are many types of steel grades available in the market that are used for making knives, multi-tools, and other tools; 8cr13Mov is one of them. It is well-known for being high-quality steel for decades.
8cr13Mov is one of the best high carbon stainless steel that is available at an affordable rate. It is similar to AUS 8 steel and belongs to the CR13 series steel. Moreover, it is also one of the strongest high-carbon steel.
Many knifemakers used 8cr13Mov steel in making knives and other tools. You will get to know of some of the best 8cr13Mov steel knives in this article.
Furthermore, you will get to know all the information related to 8cr13Mov steel in this article. In this article, I will explain the chemical composition of 8cr13Mov steel, the properties of 8cr13Mov steel, and almost everything about 8cr13Mov steel.
Table of Contents
8cr13Mov Steel Composition
The elements included in the 8cr13Mov steel help the steel to reach a high level of strength, hardness, and wear resistance. It consists of different elements, and each element is used for different purposes and has different features.
The elements included in the 8cr13Mov steel grade are as follows:
| Elements | Percentage | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 14.5 | It increases the steel’s edge retention and strength. It also enhances corrosion resistance and wears resistance of the steel. |
| Manganese | 1 | Manganese increases the steel’s hardness and brittleness of the steel. |
| Silicon | 1 | It improves the steel’s strength. |
| Carbon | 0.8 | Carbon increases the steel’s wear resistance and corrosion resistance. It also increases the hardness of the steel. However, a high amount of carbon may decrease the steel’s strength. |
| Molybdenum | 0.3 | It increases the steel’s strength and machinability. |
| Nickel | 0.2 | Nickel improves the steel’s toughness. |
| Vanadium | 0.25 | It improves the steel’s hardenability and wears resistance. |
| Phosphorus | 0.04 | Phosphorus increases the steel’s strength. |
| Sulfur | 0.04 | It increases the steel’s machinability. |
8Cr13Mov steel has a percentage of Chromium (more than 12%), which means it is stainless steel. It also has a high amount of Manganese, Silicon, and Carbon, which offers strength and hardness to steel.
Rockwell hardness of the 8Cr13Mov steel
As you know, 8Cr13Mov is stainless steel with high chromium and high carbon. It also has a high amount of Manganese and Silicon. All these elements offer strength and hardness to 8Cr13Mov steel.
As you see, 8Cr13Mov steel has a great combination and composition of elements, and because of this, 8Cr13Mov steel possesses great hardness. The Rockwell hardness of the 8Cr13Mov steel is between 57 to 59 HRC.
Mechanical Properties of 8cr13mov
8Cr13Mov steel has an amazing chemical composition and HRC. According to the HRC and chemical composition of the 8Cr13Mov steel, it offers some amazing properties, which are as follows:
Sharpness
Many people often ask, “Is 8Cr13MoV easy to sharpen?” The answer to this question is Yes. The 8Cr13MoV steel is quite easy to sharpen because it has decent hardness. Steels with decent hardness often require less effort to sharpen. 8Cr13MoV steel knives can be quite easily sharpened with standard sharpening tools.
Edge Retention
The good thing about 8Cr13MoV steel is that it offers decent edge retention. The edge retention of the 8Cr13MoV steel can be compared with other mid-range steels. However, it may not give you the best edge retention like high-end steels, but it gives you a decent edge- retention, which is also good at this cost.
Corrosion resistance
As you know, 8Cr13MoV is stainless steel because it has a high amount of Chromium in its composition. The stainless steels always offer excellent corrosion resistance as this steel is also stainless steel. Therefore, it offers excellent corrosion resistance. Moreover, chromium is very important for keeping off rusting and oxidation rusting of steel.
Wear resistance
8Cr13MoV has a high amount of Chromium and a bit amount of vanadium in its composition. And, because of these two elements, 8Cr13MoV offers good wear resistance.
Toughness
8Cr13MoV steel has a decent toughness, but for its price, it is pretty good. Keep in mind that do not use 8Cr13MoV steel knives on tough objects. However, you can quite comfortably use 8Cr13MoV steel knives for normal cutting tasks.
Is 8Cr13MoV steel good for Knives?
Yes, 8Cr13MoV is good steel for budget-friendly knives.
8Cr13MoV steel offers great corrosion resistance, wear resistance, hardness, and edge retention properties. Moreover, it has decent toughness, which makes it a good option for budget-friendly knives.
If you are looking for a budget-friendly pocket knife for camping, EDC, hunting, or other outdoor activities, then buying an 8Cr13MoV knife is not a bad choice. However, if you want a knife with amazing edge retention, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, etc., properties, then go for high-end steel knives.
Best 8Cr13MoV steel Knives
There are many knives available in the market that are made with 8Cr13MoV stainless steel. Some of the best 8Cr13MoV steel knives are as follows:
1. Kershaw Brawler Folding Knife
Kershaw Brawler is one of the best Kershaw knives. It comes at an affordable price with so many amazing features. The Brawler knife features a 3-inch tanto-style blade, which is made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel.
The blade of the knife is sturdy, and it can handle most of your tasks. It is a perfect knife for camping, hunting, or EDC. The good thing about the knife’s blade is that it comes with a blade oxide finish that looks beautiful and dampens light reflections.
The feature which I like the most in this knife is its SpeedSafe Assisted Opening system. You can quite quickly and smoothly open the knife’s blade with one hand. Simply push a thumb stud or press a flipper. Another good thing about this knife is that the flipper on the knife is very easy to operate by both left and right-hand users.
Kershaw Brawler folding knife comes with a glass-filled nylon handle which is a good material for knife handles. The glass-filled nylon handle also increases the strength of the knife. Moreover, the weight of this handle is light which ensures a safe and secure grip. Also, you can grip the knife’s handle for a long time without any fatigue.
The Kershaw Brawler folding knife also features a solid liner lock system. The solid liner lock system safely secures the blade and prevents unwanted blade closure. Furthermore, it also comes with a pocket clip that makes it more appealing. You can safely carry the knife with you with the help of a pocket clip in different directions. Overall, it is a perfect knife for outdoor adventures.
Specifications
- Color: Black
- Brand: Kershaw
- Blade Length: 3-inch
- Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV steel
- Blade Edge: V-Grind
- Blade Shape: Tanto Point
- Handle Material: Glass Filled Nylon
- Item Weight: 0.05 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 6 (L) x 1 (W) x 1 (H) inches
- Price range: 30$ – 40$
2. Kershaw Cryo Pocket Knife
Kershaw Cryo is another amazing Kershaw pocket knife. The Kershaw Cryo is perfectly made in collaboration between Kershaw experts and Rick Hinderer (a custom knifemaker). It comes with a 2.75-inch blade which is made of 8Cr13MoV steel. The flipper and thumb stud is also made from 8Cr13MoV steel.
The 8Cr13MoV is great steel which is known for its edge retention, toughness, and resistance to wear and corrosion. Additionally, the entire knife is coated with a matte Gray titanium carbo-nitride that provides a sleek, no-fuss look and boosts edge retention, hardness, and blade longevity.
The blade of the knife can last longer if you use it on simple tasks. Moreover, the Kershaw Cryo knife is constructed with all steel so that it can be very useful for a variety of applications. Whether you are a survivalist, camper, hiker, outdoor adventurer, or other, this knife will be the perfect choice for you. Furthermore, it is great for EDC, and you can also use it in your daily life for simple tasks.
The good thing about the Cryo knife is that it features a SpeedSafe assisted opening. You can quite smoothly and quickly open the Cryo knife blade with one hand. It also features a tough lock bar stabilizer and frame lock that securely locks the blade in place. Therefore, you can safely use the knife without any fear.
The feature which I like the most in this knife is its handle. The handle of the knife is made from stainless steel that can withstand rust and provide corrosion resistance. The stainless-steel handle also provides excellent durability to the knife. Moreover, the stainless-steel handle is easy to grip, and you can comfortably grip it for a long time without any fatigue.
Overall, it is a perfect knife for outdoor activities. If you are looking for an affordable knife with amazing features and performance, then I’ll suggest you buy a Kershaw Cryo knife.
Specifications
- Color: Silver
- Brand: Kershaw
- Blade Length: 2.75-inch
- Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV stainless steel
- Blade Edge: Plain
- Handle Material: Stainless steel
- Item Weight: 0.1 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 0.39 (L) x 0.39 (W) x 0.39 (H) inches
- Price range: 35$ – 45$
3. Spyderco Tenacious Value Folding Knife
Spyderco is another well-known brand of folding knives. Spyderco Tenacious is one of the best folding knives available in the market. It comes at an amazing price, making it so popular and one of the best folding knives.
Spyderco Tenacious comes with a 3.39-inch blade, 4.38-inch handle, with an overall knife length of 7.77-inch. The blade of the knife is made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel. The 8Cr13MoV is good steel that offers the knife’s blade with amazing toughness, edge retention, and resistance to wear and corrosion.
The feature which I like the most in this knife is its handle. The Spyderco Tenacious features a G-10 handle that offers fatigue-free cutting. You can use the knife for extended hours without any hand or wrist fatigue. Moreover, the handle also features a liner lock that securely locks the blade in place. The liner lock offers additional safety so that you can use the knife without any fear.
Another amazing feature of this knife is its 4-way pocket clip. The pocket clip offers a variety of carrying options (left-hand, right-hand, tip-up, and tip-down). The size of the Spyderco Tenacious is not that large, so it can easily fit in your pocket.
One thing that I dislike about this knife is its finger choil that is missing. It would be great if the knife had finger choil. However, for the price, this knife is perfect in all its aspects.
Specifications
- Brand: Spyderco
- Blade Length: 3.39-inch
- Handle Length: 4.38-inch
- Overall Length: 7.77-inch
- Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV steel
- Blade Shape: Clip Point
- Blade Edge: Plain Edge
- Handle: G10 handle
- Item Dimensions: 6 (L) x 1 (W) x 1 (H) inches
- Price range: 50$ – 60$
Comparison of 8Cr13Mov steel with the Other Steels
In this section, I will compare the 8Cr13MoV steel with some other steel. For this, I’ll create comparison tables so you can quickly understand which steel is better than other steel. I will rate some elements on a scale from 1 to 10.
Let’s start.
8cr13mov vs 440c
| 8Cr13MoV steel | 440c steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Edge retention | 2/10 | 3.5/10 |
| Stainless steel | Yes | Yes |
| Ease of Sharpness | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Rockwell Hardness | 57 to 59 HRC | 57 to 58 HRC |
| Toughness | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Corrosion Resistance | 7/10 | 8/10 |
440c steel is best in terms of edge retention and corrosion resistance, while 8Cr13MoV steel is best for ease of sharpness and toughness. However, in terms of Rockwell’s hardness, both are almost the same.
8cr13mov vs. VG10
| 8Cr13MoV steel | VG10 steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Edge retention | 2/10 | 6/10 |
| Stainless steel | Yes | Yes |
| Ease of Sharpness | 8.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Rockwell Hardness | 57 to 59 HRC | 62+ HRC |
| Toughness | 5/10 | 3/10 |
| Corrosion Resistance | 7/10 | 8/10 |
VG10 steel has better edge retention, Rockwell hardness, and corrosion resistance. On the other hand, 8Cr13MoV steel has better ease of sharpness and toughness.
8cr13mov steel vs. AUS 8 steel
| 8Cr13MoV steel | AUS 8 steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Edge retention | 2/10 | 3/10 |
| Stainless steel | Yes | Yes |
| Ease of Sharpness | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
| Rockwell Hardness | 57 to 59 HRC | 59 HRC |
| Toughness | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Corrosion Resistance | 7/10 | 8/10 |
AUS 8 steel is better in terms of edge retention, ease of sharpness, and corrosion resistance. Additionally, in terms of toughness and Rockwell hardness, both steel grades are almost the same.
8cr13mov vs 8cr14mov
| 8Cr13MoV steel | 8Cr14MoV steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Edge retention | 2/10 | 3/10 |
| Stainless steel | Yes | Yes |
| Ease of Sharpness | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Rockwell Hardness | 57 to 59 HRC | 57 to 59 HRC |
| Toughness | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Corrosion Resistance | 7/10 | 7/10 |
In my opinion, 8Cr13MoV and 8Cr14MoV both steel grades are the same. Both of these steels offer almost the same performance.
Our Verdict
To conclude here, I will suggest you buy 8Cr13mov steel as it offers amazing edge retention, corrosion resistance, hardness, and wear resistance properties at an affordable price. It is really good steel for the price.
If you are looking for budget-friendly hunting, camping, EDC pocket knife, then buying an 8Cr13mov steel knife will be a good choice.
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