In the world of tactical folding knives, the choice of blade steel can turn into a popularity contest and leave the standard favorites forgotten rather quickly. Sleipner blade steel is one of the classic, reliable choices that has become one of the forgotten heroes of the blade world. It still stands out as on of the top contenders of reliable, steel choices that, unlike the trendy options, keeps costs at a reasonable level. Let's not forget what is truly needed when it comes to quality EDC choices–hard use ability, longevity, and reliability.
Blade steel is important because it directly influences performance, durability, and overall reliability of knives. Among the growing list of options available, Sleipner blade steel remains an exceptional choice for tactical folding knives.
Here’s why Sleipner is still a heavy hitter among knife enthusiasts and professionals alike:
The Facts From Sleipner's Manufacturer
Uddeholm Sleipner is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloyed tool steel which is characterized by:- Good wear resistance
- Good chipping resistance
- High compressive strength
- High hardness (>60 HRC) after high temperature tempering
- Good through-hardening properties
- Good stability in hardening
- Good resistance to tempering back
- Good WEDM properties
- Good machinability and grindability
- Good surface treatment properties.
1. Exceptional Edge Retention
One of the primary attributes of Sleipner steel is its remarkable edge retention. This means that a knife with a Sleipner blade stays sharp longer, even after extensive use. This quality is particularly crucial in tactical scenarios where the reliability of your knife can be the difference between success and failure. Whether cutting through tough materials or performing precision tasks, a knife that maintains its edge is indispensable.From the maker's website profiling Sleipner's edge retention qualities:
Uddeholm Sleipner is a general purpose steel for cold work tooling. It has a mixed-abrasive wear profile and a good resistance to chipping. Furthermore a high hardness (>60 HRC) can be obtained after high temperature tempering. This means that surface treatments such as nitriding or PVD can be made on a high strength substrate. Also, it means that complicated shapes with hardness levels >60 HRC can be wire EDM’d from blocks with relatively thick cross-sections with a much reduced risk of cracking