Victorinox steel from Sandvik?

gustophersmob · **on:** February 11, 2018, 05:39:12 PM

I was just looking at the English Wikipedia page for victorinox, and right at the beginning it mentions that they use Swedish steel from Sandvik. I'd not heard that before, and was wondering if it was true?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorinox

dks · **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2018, 05:43:22 PM

Damasteel used for their Damascus steel knives is also Swedish

gustophersmob · **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2018, 06:11:31 PM

Quote from: dks on February 11, 2018, 05:43:22 PM

Damasteel used for their Damascus steel knives is also Swedish

Cool thanks.

It seemed like Vic steel used to be such a mystery, so I think I was just surprised to see that it was Sandvik. Though that still doesn't really tell what the actual alloy is.

Marc_in_NS · **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2018, 06:33:06 PM

Quote from: gustophersmob on February 11, 2018, 06:11:31 PM

Quote from: dks on February 11, 2018, 05:43:22 PM
Damasteel used for their Damascus steel knives is also Swedish

Cool thanks.

It seemed like Vic steel used to be such a mystery, so I think I was just surprised to see that it was Sandvik. Though that still doesn't really tell what the actual alloy is.

There is a chap (blogger) that states the makeup of the Vic SAK steel right down to the different elements and hardness...
You can find it on Sakhome dot com. Under VICTORINOX Steel.

dmattaponi · **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2018, 07:25:33 PM

I've read that Wiki article also, but recently I watched a Youtube video put out by Victorinox in which the narrator of the video states, as they are showing the camera the steel being brought into the factory, that the steel that they use is "imported from Germany and France".

Wspeed · **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2018, 07:33:48 PM

Interesting

dmattaponi · **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2018, 07:39:39 PM

1.33min in...

ColoSwiss · **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2018, 05:46:38 AM

I suspect they get their steel from whoever offers the appropriate grade at the best price.

dks · **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2018, 09:29:37 AM

most likely true

Steinar · **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2018, 10:14:20 AM

The most reliable I've seen is DIN 1.4110 sourced from “whoever can...” as stated above. I think they've used steel from Bonpertuis at same point, but don't quote me on that one.

EMZ · **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2018, 01:00:17 PM

The different tools have different hardness's. I know that's true for the Dutch 'KL1993' Army Knife .

Steinar · **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2018, 01:07:53 PM

True for the 91 mm knives as well. (I would still guess the blades and the tools are the same alloy, just hardened slightly differently. Anybody got more info on that?)

dks · **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2018, 01:10:42 PM

As pointed out above, It is very likely they buy suitable steel and then heat-treat it according to some standards they have for consistency.

They advertise the hardness of their various tools - I remember seeing it somewhere.. I think it is 57 for the blade and 54 for screwdrivers, but this is purely from memory

The Damasteel ones are 61, I think

Steinar · **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2018, 01:14:16 PM

From the official Vic press kit http://db.pprmediarelations.ch/de/object/181285 :

Quote

To make the two blades, we use a stainless special knife steel alloyed with chromium and molyb-
denum. After hardening at 1,040 degrees Celsius and tempering at 160 degrees Celsius, the
blades have a hardness of 56 RC (RC = Rockwell C, unit of hardness). The woodsaws, scissors
and nail files have a hardness of 53 RC, the screwdrivers, can openers and awls measure 52 RC,
and the corkscrews and springs 49 RC.

dks · **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2018, 01:26:02 PM

Yes, that is the one.

gustophersmob · **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2018, 03:21:08 PM

Lots of good info, thanks everyone.

It makes sense they would purchase from a number of suppliers if for no other reason than to mitigate risk in case a supplier fails to deliver.