About
PEV Knives are constructed from the following materials:
Blade Steel:
I use three different types of stainless
steel or High carbon steels for all knives:
Stainless steels.
1. 12C27
Sandvik 12C27™
is Sandvik's most well-rounded knife steel, composed of an alloy similar to
440A. This grade of steel provides a balance between edge retention, corrosion
-resistance, and the ability to be sharpened.
2. Sandvik
14C28N
14C28N is the latest development in Sandvik's range of knife steels.
Optimized chemistry provides a top-grade knife steel with a unique combination
of excellent edge performance, high hardness, and good corrosion resistance.
3.
Lohman
L4528 (similar to Bohler
N690)
L4528 is a stainless, high-alloyed steel which has been developed for many
types of knives and cutting tasks. It is used among other things in outdoor
knives, camping knives, pocketknives, hunting knives, etc. Its has a very high
resistance to rust and is very good to polish.
4.
Bohler
N690 steel.
N690 has the right carbon content and the right cobalt content. An Austrian
steel manufacturer, who is the current source for N690, is a worldwide leader
in their production of N690 steel. Their steel composition is as follows:
carbon 1.07%, chromium 17%, cobalt 1.5%, manganese .40%, molybdenum 1.10%,
silicon .40% and vanadium .10%. The key to the hardness of N690 is the addition
of cobalt in the steel matrix. The cobalt creates uniformity in the structure
within the steel. The value of cobalt in a knife blade is it produces a fine
edge with excellent edge retention.
5.
BECUT
This is a patented alloy with niobium added stainless to give good
toughness, edge retention and wear resistance while also offering good
corrosion resistance and a fine grain structure. Niobium is used in a
relatively small number of knife steels, but its addition is significant in
terms of effects on the final properties. Fundamentally, niobium is added for
similar reasons to vanadium: to form hard MC carbides, where M can refer to V,
Nb, Ti, etc. The hard carbides can contribute to grain size refinement, carbide
structure refinement, and wear resistance.
High Carbon
Steels
1.
5160 Spring steel:
If you’re wondering if the 5160 steel is a good steel for knives, The
answer is Yes. It’s low -end Alloy Spring steel high in Carbon and Chromium.
It’s very tough steel with high impact resistance. It’s used for swords, large
knives, the automotive industry, and leaf spring.
Spring steel is
a nomination given to low-alloy manganese, medium-carbon steel, or high-carbon
steel with a high yield strength.
Edge
Retention: with a maximum
HRC of 60, the steel offers great edge retention.
Corrosion
Resistance: with a low
Chromium presence (0.9%), the 5160 steel offers low corrosion resistance.
Wear
Resistance: the mixture
of carbon, chromium, and Magnesium offers a great wear resistance.
2.
15N20 High Carbon steel
15N20 is a
great steel for knife blades. It is very tough and easy to heat treat. It has
enough toughness to be used at HRC 61-62 and resist chipping. Its primary use
is bandsaw blades in sawmills.
Knifemakers who
make damascus are familiar with 15N20. The nickel in 15N20 resists acid etching
and stays shiny. This is one reason why 15N20 is used in making some damascus.
The nickel also adds significantly to the toughness of the steel.
All blades are heat treated to a Rockwell C Hardness of 52-58.
These are of the best corrosion resistant steels available today with edge
holding characteristics that are desirable in a working knife. All models are
made from between 2mm to 4mm stock.
Handles: Handle material is a matter of personal
preference. Some materials are better suited for knives than others with regard
to durability and stability. Because
of their natural warmth and lasting beauty, I use mostly south African and
African hard woods. I personally select each piece for its color, texture,
grain pattern, and appearance. These heavy, dense woods are spectacular; they
polish to a high shine and wear well with age. Each handle is hand-sculpted and
designed for a comfortable grip.
Other handle materials: These will incur additional
costs such as Maple, Desert Ironwood, Purple Heart wood, Zebra Wood, Elephant
Ivory, Different types of Horn and bone, different handcrafted Micartas. These are
Priced on Request (P.o.R.).
Scrimshaw and pyrographed embellishments: optional extra:
should you require a scrimshaw on the handle (bone and ivory handles only)
or pyrographed picture on the leather sheath,
this will be priced on request.
Sheaths: All knives come with sheaths made from 3mm
vegetable tanned leather. I hand stitch all sheaths and then wet form them to
each knife. After the sheath is dry, it is treated with bees wax dressing to
protect it from moisture and to help maintain its fit to the knife.
PLEASE NOTE: Natural handle materials cannot be guaranteed
against changes in dimensions or coloration. Knives are meant to be used as
cutting instruments, not as screw drivers or pry bars. Any abuse will void
the warranty. A custom knife will perform trouble free for years if given
the same care as a fine gun.
