Can we talk about hitting 64 Rockwell on 1095 steel?

I finally managed to heat treat a batch of 1095 to a solid 64 HRC in my backyard forge using a thermocouple and Parks 50 quench oil. But now I'm wondering if that hardness is actually practical for a daily use knife or just a flex for the internet. Some guys say 62 is the sweet spot for edge retention without chipping, but I've seen makers push past 65 for competition stuff. What's your take - would you rather have a 64 hard edge that's a pain to sharpen or a softer blade you can tune up in seconds?

2 comments

2 Comments

abby_carr575h agoMost Upvoted

64 is a flex, 62 is a user-I'd take the softer edge every time.

adam_butler382h ago

Hang on, you're telling me a 62 is softer than a 64? That feels completely backwards in my head. I figured a higher number would mean more give, not less. Is that like a special "user" version or something they changed the formula on? I might be totally lost here.