CruWear is one of the few steel types specifically designed for knife blades and other cutting/drilling tools…
This alloy doesn’t fall in the stainless steel category but provides excellent corrosion resistance despite its high carbon content…
Knife enthusiasts admire CruWear steel because, when used for making knives, it provides a perfect blend between stainless and carbon steel knives…
Most collectors compare the quality and durability of the CruWear blade steel with higher-end steel alloys such as S30V…
However, despite the great reputation of this steel alloy, a true knife enthusiast would want to learn more about it before buying a CruWear knife…
This article will cover everything you need to know about CruWear blade steel and what qualities you can expect from a knife made from this alloy. So if you plan on buying a CruWear blade steel knife, we suggest you read this article.
Top 5 List Of The Best Cru-Wear Knives!
What Is CruWear Blade Steel?
CruWear steel is manufactured by Crubile Industries for making knives and other cutting tools.
CruWear blade steel is air-hardened, unlike regular steel alloys, which gives it high wear resistance and toughness.
Knives made out of CruWear blade steel offer a balance between edge retention, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance, making it the go-to alloy for knife manufacturers.
So if you are looking for a knife that doesn’t compromise on any aspect, you should look for a CruWear steel knife.
This steel alloy is closely related to the D2 steel; however, instead of the higher amounts of chromium, CruWear steel contains a higher Vanadium percentage making it a bit more tough than the D2 steel.
On the other hand, the D2 can be obtained at a cheaper price due to it’s lower durability and toughness as compared to the CruWear.
What Is The Composition Of Cru Wear Blade Steel?
Now that you know what CruWear blade steel is and why it is popular for knife making, it is time to cover its chemical composition.
Here are the percentages for all the key components of this steel alloy:
- Carbon: 1.1%
- Chromium: 7.5%
- Molybdenum: 1.6%
- Manganese: 0.35%
- Silicone: 1.1%
- Vanadium: 2.4%
- Tungsten: 1.15%
The added chromium and vanadium combined with carbon gives the CruWear steel the toughness of a traditional carbon steel alloy but with higher corrosion resistance.
Mechanical Properties Of CruWear Blade Steel
All the CruWear blade steel elements listed in the previous section combine to give this steel some distinct mechanical properties.
Here are the mechanical properties of CruWear blade steel:
- Hardness: 62 (Rockwell)
- Thermal conductivity: 23.5 W/m-K
- Elasticity: 207 GPa
- Density: 7.8g/cc
CruWear Steel Applications
As mentioned earlier, CruWear steel is most commonly used for making knives and cutting tools.
However, this steel alloy’s toughness and wear resistance make it ideal for making shear blades, blanking dies, and thread-rolling dies.
You will find CruWear being used in industrial applications under harsh conditions. However, the most common use of this steel alloy remains in manufacturing knives and heavy-duty blades.
CruWear Blade Steel Physical Properties That Make It Ideal For Knife Making
Now that you know the chemical composition and mechanical properties of the CruWear steel, you can better understand its physical properties.
The unique chemical composition of the CruWear steel gives it certain physical properties that are hard to find in regular steel.
Without further ado, here are the physical properties of the CruWear blade steel that make it highly sought after by knife enthusiasts:
Toughness: CruWear steel knives shine when it comes to toughness. Air cooling the CruWear steel adds to the toughness of the alloy.
Not to mention the carefully used combination of elements in CruWear means you won’t have to worry about your knife chipping or breaking.
Wear resistance: Thanks to the high hardness rating of this steel alloy, it can resist wear during normal use. A knife made from CruWear can withstand rough usage and impacts without chipping or rubbing off.
The high wear resistance of this steel alloy comes from the combination of carbon, chromium, and tungsten, which makes it harder than regular steel.
So, when used for making a knife, this steel alloy offers excellent results in terms of wear resistance.
Edge retention: A knife is only as good as its edge, and when it comes to edge retention, knives made out of CruWear offer exceptional edge retention. Once you sharpen this alloy, it can be used for prolonged periods without getting dull.
Edge retention of this alloy comes in especially handy for knives meant to be used outdoors in survival situations where frequent sharpening is not possible.
With that said, no matter how exceptional a knife’s edge retention is, it will still require occasional sharpening to maintain its edge.
Ease of sharpening: As mentioned in the previous section, sharpening is a part of carbon knife ownership, and most people assume tough steel like CruWear would be difficult to sharpen.
However, CruWear is still easy to sharpen despite being a tough alloy.
Almost every carbon steel variation has high hardness, yet they are extremely easy to sharpen. The high carbon content of this alloy makes it easier to shave off a small amount of metal using even the simplest sharpening tools.
As a result, you don’t have to carry complex sharpening tools or take the knife to an expert to maintain its edge. A high-quality sharpening stone will do the trick just fine.
Corrosion resistance: One concern every knife enthusiast has when buying a carbon knife is corrosion resistance.
Unlike stainless steel, carbon steel knives are notorious for catching rust easily. However, that is not the case with CruWear steel knives, which have a high chromium content.
Chromium is the element that gives steel the ability to resist corrosion. Since CruWear has a chromium content of 7.5%, it can resist corrosion well in regular-use scenarios.
CruWear is not completely corrosion-resistant, and you must maintain a regular maintenance schedule to keep your knife rust-free.
What Are Some Usage Applications Of CruWear Steel Knives?
Since CruWear steel knives maintain high toughness and wear resistance, they are best suited for heavy-duty uses such as hunting, camping, survival, and other outdoor applications.
Chopping tree branches and thin pieces of wood shouldn’t be a problem for the CruWear steel knife.
A CruWear steel knife can fit in perfectly for any knife application requiring high toughness and wear resistance.
However, as an enthusiast who wants to experience carbon steel knives CruWear steel knives are a go-to option.
That is because knives made from this steel alloy retain a carbon knife’s coloration, patterns, and feel minus the poor corrosion resistance.
So if you want to add a carbon steel knife to your collection, you can pick one made out of CruWear steel.
Pros And Cons Of CruWear Blade Steel
Now that you know the ins and outs of CruWear steel knives, it is time, to sum up the pros and cons of CruWear blade steel.
Without further ado, here are some advantages and disadvantages of using CruWear steel-made knives:
Pros:
- High toughness makes CruWear steel knives ideal for rugged applications.
- Excellent hardness prevents damage and premature wear.
- The great corrosion resistance of CruWear means that your knife will require less frequent maintenance.
- It can be sharpened easily without the need for special tools.
Cons:
- It is not a true stainless steel, so you may still have to deal with corrosion.
- Knives made out of CruWear are rare, making them more expensive than some of the other high-carbon knives.
CruWear Vs D2 Steel Knives – What’s The Difference Between The Two?
CruWear and D2 steel blades are often compared to one another because both alloys are used for making knives and tools.
However, CruWear towers above D2 steel in terms of hardness and wear resistance.
Unlike D2 steel CruWear contains tungsten and Molybdenum, both of which make CruWear steel ideal for making knives for outdoor use.
With that said, there are some similarities between the two steel alloys. For example, both CruWear and D2 steel have similar edge retention.
However, when it comes to corrosion resistance, CruWear leaves D2 in the dust. A knife made out of CruWear steel is going to last longer because of its ability to effectively fight corrosion.
So if you have the option to choose between D2 and CruWear knives, then you won’t regret picking the CruWear steel blade.
Top 5 List Of The Best Cru-Wear Knives!
CruWear Steel – Final Thoughts
Knife making is an art, and the type of steel that is used for making a knife determines its qualities and usefulness. As far as high-carbon knives go, CruWear steel is considered one of the best and most premium materials for knife making.
This article has covered everything that you need to know about CruWear blade steel and why it is so popular among knife enthusiasts.
Whether you want to purchase a CruWear knife for hunting, chopping, or other outdoor applications or you simply want to add it to your collection.
You can’t go wrong with buying a high-quality CruWear blade steel knife. However, you have to make sure you are buying the knife from a reputed source to avoid wasting your money.