I'm a hobby knife maker, and have used a bit of Magnicut in my shop. I shoot for an HRC of 63. It runs after heat treat and find it a bit more difficult to grind than other steels I use. Customers seem to love it for outdoor knives.

Great update!! Have been waiting to order my 3.2 Magnacut full flat to kick my 3.5 V4E out of my EDC. Can't wait!! Thanks Brad and Nicole.😊

Brad, both G3s I purchased from you at BLADE 21 in MagnaCut have performed flawlessly, and I love that high polish finish you did on those. Just perfect EDC knives.

Your 3.5 in magnacut is my favorite knife and the paring knife in magnacut is still sharp after 6 months of use. Can't wait to try out the 5.5.

Super happy with my Magnacut G3. Great EDC steel, and will be even better when I move onto a boat to have the excellent corrosion resistance.

The thing about Magnacut at 63hrc is that we don't have to sharpen it very often, it will keep cuttin for a long time. If I want a knife that I can easily sharpen, I would get an AEB-L blade instead.

@jeffhicks8428

4 ай бұрын

it's not even true that it's easier to sharpen, in fact the exact opposite is true. sharpening = apex formation and burr removal. Which is easier with the harder steel. In the case of grinding/machining, the difference in abrasion resistance is between 1% to 2% for each HRC, though just to be clear the HRC scale is not linear. Literally not perceptible in this case. Utter rubbish.

So for me I like a stainless so Magnacut, LN 200 and Vanax steels for the outdoors. Great video. Oh, and AEB-L as well for the kitchen and picnic table.

My Guardian 3 is in M390... I have a pretty good sharpening system and was able to get a WICKED edge on it... Love that blade..

I like the heat treat thats on my 3.5 guardian with magnacut. I bought mine at blade show 2023 and performed nearly a dozen different tests to properly evaluate how the heat treat actually performs. I assumed it was 62 hrc and this confirms that was intended target. This checks the boxes for me when it comes to the attributes i prefer in an edc fixed blade. I have different desireable preferences when it comes to everyday carry folders. What struck me the most was how many other alloys that showcased the same edge retention couldnt hold a candle to the toughness from magnacut. Whenever i test toughness i check to see how blunting accelerates after i know what the controlled cut test edge retention actually is. That way i can compare steels that are in the same kind of category. Overall im very happy with the finished product. The 62 hrc maybe lacking in the edge retention department, but in testing mine gets numbers very respectable. Probably atound 30-40% over spyderco s30v if remember right.

I digging the G3 in Cruwear. And I think I need to get a 5.5 soon. I talked to you a while back and you recommended me the 5 or the 5.5. Not sure if I will go with Magnacut or 3V yet, but the knife looks fantastic.

The comments crack me up. So many experts. All I can say is I love my Bradford Guardian 3.2 in Magnacut. Takes a beating , stays sharp, just a great knife.

LOVE my G3 in M390...

I have a G3.5 in Nitro V and a G3 in N690. These are the only ones I will use when gardening or fishing. On the Florida coast there is salt everywhere except when it is raining. I have other models in M390 which discolors quickly and this staining is difficult to remove. I would much rather sharpen a softer knife more often than carry a hard stained blade.

I'd really implore folks to try out some Magnacut and get some experience rather than some only paying attention to some numbers with minimal context. Spyderco's Magnacut has been performing very well and a lot of it has been measured at 61-62 HRC as well. My Guardian 5.5 is neck and neck in performance with my Hogue Deka Mk.2 that targets 62-64 HRC that most folks seem pleased with. I can understand wanting 63-65 HRC on a smaller folder or fixy since the toughness isn't as much of a factor, but I understand where he's coming from. There's less troubles with M390 that makes it easier, therefore cheaper to produce and it gets you at least 90% there. From what I understand, Magnacut tends to warp a bit more than many other steels during heat treat so some manufacturers are compensating by starting the process with thicker stock in order to grind out those imperfections with higher yields. That takes a longer time to grind the blades, or at the very least more expensive abrasives are needed to get the job done. I can't speak to Bradford's process and if they do something similar, but that does add manufacturing time and cost that might not be worth the effort for the shiny new buzzword. He'd also mentioned their difficulty with their current coating solutions. That can be overcome I'm sure, but it'd also result in a higher cost for the option and some rounds of R&D field testing. Ultimately, speak with your wallet and experiences first as they're the most important for the industry. Numbers are great and worthy of discussion, but there are so many factors that go into knife performance that they're more in the realm of theoretical, especially when they don't consistently match up with results.

@codybroadway8496

5 ай бұрын

I’m a big fan of Bradford knives this won’t go over well everyone assumes in truth the softer heat treats are for our loss and profits gain same way no one wants Italian knives anymore and I won’t buy a microtech as much as I love the way they look

Have your magnacut kitchen knife. On a regular basis guests pick it up and emphasize how light, well balanced, and premium it is. It's a piece that exudes class, usability, and quality.

Have you experience surface voids while machining/grinding/surface prep the magnacuts blanks?

Guys my knife is a 3.2mm 01 steel it’s 59rk. I thought that was excellent steel holds a edge, easy to sharpen back to razor sharp. These new magna cut steel I have to ask myself do I really need it ? Is it expensive ? I was just getting used to AEB-L from 01

I have two of your knives and both are the 3.2 I have a magancut and a m390 my m390 is a sheep foot design and is far superior to my magnacut it has had bad chipping on the edge with light use. I've used my m390 harder and it's seems to out preform my magnacut. It's left a sour taste for magnacut.

@ninemimesleft

5 ай бұрын

Magnacut seems extremely heat treat dependent. Make sure you sharpen it a few times to make sure the edges aren't burned. I have a magnut folder that chipped from stuff that shouldn't be chipping it. The more I sharpen it the less chippy it is.

@Griffin_pipes

5 ай бұрын

@@ninemimesleft yeah it kinda sux for a $200 knife to chip as easily as it does. I've had to sharpen chips out of it twice already and it hasn't seemed to help.

@thorwaldjohanson2526

5 ай бұрын

There seems to be some production issues with cpm.lots of voids or inclusions in the steel. Something bohler or uddeholm don't haven't.

I appreciate the transparency in heat treat, but the edge retention difference from 61 to 64 is drastic, and the toughness is still higher than almost any other stainless steel

Would you consider doing Magnacut at a higher hardness (63-64) on the smaller blades like the G3? For people wanting more edge retention and don't care that much about corrosion resistance? Maybe do a small run and see what people's feedback is and mark it as an HH edition (for Higher hardness) :)

@bradfordknives7554

5 ай бұрын

We appreciate the feedback and idea. We have only done a couple G3 EDC production runs years ago at 64Rc. Maybe the time is near for another run up there. Everything is a balance of metallurgy, ease of maintenance, and steel performances. It is curious how many consider 62Rc too soft for this steel.

@Cid_1

5 ай бұрын

@@bradfordknives7554 I think 62 is fine on many knives. But for folders and smaller EDC blades with thinner geometry 64-65 is just a whole other level of performance. Also see a lot of way too soft M390 out in the wild, where companies run it around 60HRC claiming higher toughness, but when tested against M390 at around 63HRC the higher hardness ends up with way less damage than the softer (small nick vs a large dent). Many also say the harder steel is more difficult to sharpen which I really don't understand, there are so many affordable diamond plates and high quality Japanese stones that easily can handle steel in the upper 60s (like ZDP 189). But if something is super thick behind the edge of course sharpening will take a little longer. Sadly way too many companies are set in their ways and not even willing to test these things with different heat treating protocols, running it the same way they have done for 20 years or longer. While everything else Improves (machine quality, fit & finish, material etc). But heat treats they won't budge on for some reason. Thank you for the response, I think a LOT of people would appreciate and be excited for a new G3 EDC run. Thanks again for taking the time to respond. And keep up the great work, you make some amazing blades.

@tacticalcenter8658

5 ай бұрын

Its too soft on small blades.

@Cid_1

5 ай бұрын

@@bradfordknives7554 I think a lot of people would appreciate these smaller blades at 64HRC. If you do another run, a lot of people would be happy. The difference in performance from 62 to 64 is very noticeable. Especially if the blade and edge geometry are there to support the higher hardness. Thin and hard on a small blade is the way to go in my personal opinion. Thanks for taking the time to respond 🙏

@TheScrawnyLumberjack

5 ай бұрын

Keep in mind higher hardness doesn’t mean harder to sharpen. Running the knife harder will increase corrosion resistance. However I understand past 63 it would certainly be more difficult to produce in a production environment.

Mine actually holds a worse edge and wears faster than my s35vn knives. Luckily, it doesn't rust, which I can even do to s35vn easily

Yeah, I think that in edc small knife tasks, I want something as hard as possible. M390 is too soft. Magnacut well hardened can take a thin geometry and acute bevels while being resilient and way more resistant to deformation than M390. I like a hardness over 63 rockwell, I think it changes everything for edc uses. I think your smaller knives should be HT higher. I’d like very much a Guardian 3 at 64 hrc, but lower, no, I would rather invest in one of those yellow ass spidercos. Do you plan to do these with high visibility G10 or suretouch and a multimount kydex sheet ? It would make a cool salt-water knife IMO.

@bradfordknives7554

Ай бұрын

Thanks for the feedback. We have offered limited runs in higher HT in the past, but most customers prefer the 61-62 range. We may offer a future production run in the higher hardness again. We offer kydex for our knives, most have either a Taco or Pancake option. Earth tone scales are the most popular, but we occasionally offer limited production runs of brighter colors. We currently have some Orange and Toxic Green in our Textured profile in stock.

@dayannahkali

Ай бұрын

@@bradfordknives7554 Awsome. I see only my French stores, that is why I was unaware of all you just said. I will look that in detail, I find the design so interesting ! I think most people still use ceramic stones for their knives and that is why they prefer a softer steel. Ceramic stones actually sharpen the iron matrice but not the harder carbides that only diamond cuts, leading to a sub optimal result. With diamond, the harder the steel, the quickest it sharpens in my experience (M4, K390) In anyway, thanks for your cool answer!

Happy to see that you are now making an American knife with MagnaCut American steel (M390 is foreign steel which I cannot abide). Waiting for you to release a 4.5 in MagnaCut w full flat grind. What is the riddle of steel? HRC 62-63 the way Larrin meant it to be.

@phantomfang1927

5 ай бұрын

Yet the phone, or pc you used to make this comment has parts that came from over seas 😂

@BoFamous

5 ай бұрын

There are certain things that some people like that are made in a specific places (Swiss watches,, Japanese samurai swords, French wine, etc). Bradford promulgates itself as an American knife company which has value for some people. (Also MagnaCut is awesome for knife geeks)

@toma1460

5 ай бұрын

Really, are you telling me you buy magnacut to be popular with geeks? Do you even use your knives?

@BoFamous

5 ай бұрын

@toma1460 you misread my comment.... I AM a knife geek. And, if you are watching this video you are one too.

@phantomfang1927

5 ай бұрын

@@BoFamous You know other American Knife companies use parts that come from over seas as well. Don't see people making a big deal about being all American as you are. Also if you wanted a full American built knife, why aren't you looking a custom knife maker? Where they would make everything in house.

Guardian 6? Maybe?

Actually that's the only reason I haven't bought any of your magnacut is because you are running it soft & not pulling its potential especially on a blade under 6 inchs. I have magnacut at 60, 62, & 65 hrc. The higher hrc is actually easier to sharpen & even at 65 is twice as tough as m390. In my opinion (& a bunch of others) a production magnacut knife blade under 6 inches should be 63/64hrc and has worked best for me. And yes 1 or 2 hrc increases the edge stability & edge retention to a amazing level!!!

63hrc is the place to be

That's funny you say 61 to 62 hrc when pretty much everything else I hear from even the guy who invented magnacut and the places that make it say the best or "sweet" spot for it is at the 63 to 64 hrc mark, not trying to tell a large knife maker thier bussiness just saying what you say seems contrary to what most others are saying.

Magnacut is tough, but 3V is tougher. Magnacut for the EDC blades and 3V for the outdoors blades was perfect...

@stormsigma

6 ай бұрын

Right, but 3V isn't stainless, and also doesn't hold an edge as long as Magnacut. 3V is great stuff, but MC is an all around great steel, moreso than 3V. In knife steels, you can pick between: toughness, edge-holding, and stainless properties. Almost all other steels out there, you can pick two (like 3V). MC, you get high marks in all three. If toughness is all you care about, go with 3V. If you need all three, you buy a knife made in MC.

@IvIidnight

6 ай бұрын

@@stormsigma Exactly! And why wouldn't you want your EDC to be as corrosion as possible?

I avoid 62 and below magnacut unless its over 5". So, no thanks.

@user-im9ov9ud7m

5 ай бұрын

Really.

@tacticalcenter8658

5 ай бұрын

@@user-im9ov9ud7m why wouldn't you?

@tacticalcenter8658

5 ай бұрын

@@user-im9ov9ud7m yes really.

The idea that magnacut at 63 rc is "harder" or more difficult to sharpen than magnacut at 61 rc is totally false. In fact the opposite is true. because sharpening is about apex formation and burr removal, not bulk stock removal by abrasion. Even in the case of abrasion. The difference in abrasion resistance between mc at 63 vs 61 rc is so tiny that it would be literally imperceptible. About 3% more on a catra test. It blows my mind how even so called professionals don't know their stuff and can't get basic facts straight, or they lie and just think selling bs is a better strategy for public relations. Who knows.

If you make it in 63-64, I'd get one. You are running it too soft, not as the maker designed it for.

Magnacut is great when it’s heat treated properly. 63-65HRC. These 3.2s would be INSANE at 63-64 hrc. You guys have it way too low. Might as well just keep using M390 if your going to run it this low, as m390 is better than soft Magnacut..

62 and below is no go.

@bradfordknives7554

5 ай бұрын

Thank you for your feedback. You are welcome to email us at orders@bradfordknives.com and share your knowledge and what jobs you do where sub 62Rc knives are too soft.

@tacticalcenter8658

5 ай бұрын

@@bradfordknives7554 your m390 is also too soft. Don't use a high wear steel if you want toughness.

@tacticalcenter8658

5 ай бұрын

@@bradfordknives7554 60 and below m390 is also too soft.

@tacticalcenter8658

5 ай бұрын

@@bradfordknives7554 60 is too low for m390 at sub 4"

Amercan knives need American steel, Magnacut made in the USA Baby, Sheepfoot 4 please in MC.

@BoFamous

6 ай бұрын

Truth! What would Conan's father say. I'm Waiting for the 3.2 Magnacut, full flat for me ... American designed, American made. I want a 3.2 but will not buy with foreign steel.