Developed and manufactured to high quality standards, this forge-welded steel is perfectly suited for producing high-hardness knives using the stock-removal method. Thanks to its outstanding toughness within a hardness range of 63–68 HRC, the ApexUltra Nickel Go Mai outperforms other steels of similar hardness.
Recommended hardness range for the cutting edge: 63–68 HRC. This is a 7-layer steel featuring an ApexUltra core, two copper diffusion barriers, and two layers of Damascus as cladding.
Following forge-welding and forging/rolling, we normalize, grain-refine, and soft-anneal the steel to save you these time-consuming steps as a knifemaker and to ensure the best possible performance from the material. You can start sawing or grinding the contour immediately.
To emphasize the natural texture of the steel, we gently remove the scale instead of simply grinding the surface flat. We straighten the steel as much as possible during this stage; however, fine-straightening after contour grinding and before hardening may still be beneficial.
Recommended heat treatment: 830°C for 10 minutes, quenched in medium or fast oil. Temper at 175°C for 2x2 hours, cooling to room temperature before each tempering cycle. Further hardening instructions can be found in the ApexUltra data sheet: [https://www.apexultrasteel.com/downloads].
The cutting core accounts for approximately 30% of the material thickness.
This product is raw material for making knives via the stock-removal method. The images of finished knives are merely examples of use; the knives are not part of the item offered here. These steels are not stainless. The copper contained in the steel may react when in contact with acidic foods.