3cr13 Steel : Full Details And Review

What Is 3cr13 Steel?

3cr13 steel is a martensitic stainless steel that contains 0.3% Carbon and 13% Chromium.  The name 3cr13 follows the GB/T 1220 Chinese national standard for steel classification. 

To be considered a stainless steel it must contain a minimum of approximately 11% Chromium. 

It is often used in various applications and high-strength parts such as;  shafts, bolts, nozzles, valves, bearings, tools, and springs.  

It has also been used for many years as a reliable and proven knife steel.  It has many desirable properties that make is suitable for knives such as;

• Its ability to be formed and ground easily when tempered
• Decent toughness
• Ease of sharpening
• Good corrosion resistance
• Cost effective
• Readily available in large quantities

Properties of 3cr13

Edge Retention

While 3cr13 is a decent knife steel with fairly balanced properties its edge retention is considerably lower than many modern day higher end steels.  That said, for it's price it holds an edge fairly well and when it does get dull it sharpens up very easily.

Hardness

One of the main contributing factors to a steels hardness is the total level of carbon it contains. (along with various other additives)  Since 3cr13 is on the lower end of carbon content it makes sense that it has a moderate hardness compared to some other premium steels.  

The overall hardness of 3cr13 is usually between about 50 and 58 HRC depending on the heat treatment applied.

Toughness

One of the areas where 3cr13 shines is its overall toughness.  It is a very robust steel that does not chip or break easily.  Very often, hardness and toughness are competing factors in the overall durability of different steels.  As a steel gets harder, it tends to get more brittle and thus reduces its overall toughness.

The good toughness of 3cr13 lends it to be a good steel for things like machetes, tomahawks, and throwing knives, as well as other more general use blades that may be subjected to a bit of abuse.

Corrosion Resistance

With it's low carbon content and decent amount of Chromium added, 3cr13 resists corrosion fairly well.  While any stainless steel will eventually rust with repeated exposure to adverse conditions 3cr13 will hold up well to normal use and even a good bit of abuse.

Sharpening

As mentioned above, 3cr13 has a moderate hardness which makes it very easy to resharpen.  In this regard, it is a great steel for a knife owner who is learning to sharpen their knives without many special tools or supplies.  Once you learn how to sharpen properly, 3cr13 can achieve a razor-sharp edge.