(815) What is the Rockwell Hardness of the Rough Ryder Wasp Series VG10?

[@daven.7685]

Thanks for doing this, William. I had emailed SMKW Customer Service early last week, asking them to confirm that the Wasp series is, in fact, VG-10. They have not replied, which is unusual for them. Your testing has provided more confidence that at least the steal in the Wasp series is of a higher hardness than the standard 440A. Much appreciated.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Dave N. They should have at least answered you with a I don't know, if they don't know.

[@daven.7685]

@@WilliamsKnifeLife Agreed!

[@nitrorc4life1]

They have answered my question on this,and they confirmed the wasp series IS vg10

[@LegionTacticoolCutlery]

LOVE RR!!!!! What great knives for the price. Cool test!

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Legion

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

RR Says they do the 440A to 56/58 VG10 is normally done to around 60. Once you get beyond 60 the steel can become brittle and chip. My bet is your VG10 is done to 58/60 or maybe just a little over. Basically the industry standard. Thanks for the confirmation.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Tobias. It looks like they did the heat treatment correctly. Anything beyond 60 is getting up there in the chipping & breaking possibility.

[@ivancho5854]

Do you know what Rough Rider's T10 is hardened to Tobias? Many thanks.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

@@ivancho5854 Alas, I do not. From what I understand, T10 is normally hardened to around 60-62 HRC but supposedly can be hardened up to 67.Some claim that the 67 HRC is fine with larger blades but risks chipping on the thinner blade stock of smaller knives. I'm not familiar enough with the steel to make any sound judgement. I do know, William has some RR T10 knives. Perhaps he can do an HRC test on them.

[@ivancho5854]

@@KnifeChatswithTobias I hope so. Thanks Tobias.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

I'll check them out & do a video.

[@BaxtersBlades]

Very interesting!! Thanks!!

[@JoseGonzalez-yx6vm]

Interesting, have not seen this done before, thanks!

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Jose

[@toddcarr.]

Awesome testing with these files while not super accurate they can give you a general idea especially if you use them in a consistent way. Wonder if bread blasted, stone washed or other finishes on a knife effects the testing. Thanks for the great vid and keep making sharp things fun and enjoyable

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Todd. The concept is fairly simple, but yes, it does take practice. As long as the file is below the heat treatment Rockwell, it won't scratch the metal. To reduce errors, i try to remove any oil on the blade. Something like a blade coating would probably give inaccurate results.

[@mikehook2835]

Awesome thanks for showing it to us.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

No problem 👍

[@davidkurle5418]

This was good info, buddy. Cheers!

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

thank you David

[@bdh3949]

Thanks for confirming the harder steel on the VG10...no matter the actual hardness number. Good to know it doesn't all come from a marketing department.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you BD H 👍

[@EDCandLace]

I have had two of the blue and black vg10 trappers and the copper liner lock cleaver vg10 PMI tested and rockwelled. They are indeed vg10 and all three tested between 60.2 and 61.4

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you for that information. It's good to know they are legit VG10.

[@skcamerican]

Great idea to test the wasps! It’s pretty weird the steel isn’t on the blade - maybe the factory screwed up. SMKW is still struggling with their web fiasco, maybe they will clarify things when that gets fixed. I’m glad there are more VG10 options. Couldn’t make myself pull the trigger on those aluminum handled models. Well, not sure I can go with the yellow and black, either. How about a nice brown, Smoky?

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

it is strange that the Aluminium handled VG10 RR came out before the Wasp series, but they got a VG10 etch. That's why i like the blade steel etched or stamped somewhere on the knife. otherwise it's what kind of steel is that? Shiny steel, it's Shiny.

[@SubUrbanNinja-EDC]

Anything above 59 makes a good wood carver. I would love to see what the hardness of the Carbon Classic Sway Belly whittler is.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

I'll try to find that one.

[@JollyPeanut]

Why would they not stamp the VG10 on the blade, that blows my mind 🤯....Cool video William👍✨

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Yes, they stamp VG10 on other blades. I don't know why they didn't mark it on these.

[@rustyknifelover4463]

Nice looks like they May have heat treated it right.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

👍

[@gizmocarr3093]

I was wondering when you would get around to checking some of your folding knives with your hardness testing set. Looks like it is something fun to have. Thank you for the information. 🐯

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

thank you Gizmo. 👍

[@mikecurtis2585]

Nice information good to know!!

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Mike

[@ivancho5854]

Hi William. This was very interesting. Until now I didn't even know that this series was VG10 as the retailer I use here in the UK lists it as 440A. Of course it isn't marked on the blade as you said. My interest in them is now higher. The only other budget VG10 traditionals that I can think of are Brother, which look very well made indeed. Would you consider testing the Rockwell Hardness of Rough Rider's T10 Carbon Steel as I'm undecided about what to get next for whittling (the 440A is just a bit soft I think). Thanks. All the best.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Ivancho. Sure I'll test their T10. that's a good idea 💡

[@ivancho5854]

@@WilliamsKnifeLife Brilliant William.

[@fossilimprint2954]

Did not know about the file hardness test, most interesting. By the way, peta will soon inundate you with harrassment due to the bit with the moth, lol.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

I'll be ready for PETA. a moth is an insect, not an animal. They need a PETI division 🤣🕷🦗🪳🦂🦟🪰🦠🐞🪲🐝🐜🐛🦋🐌

[@jeroenvoss6231]

Amizing good hardness on the VG10 steel. I didn't expect it to be between 60 and 65, more between 55 and 60, but they really did a good job there. The mothballs doesn't bother them? hmm maybe you're supposed to throw them at the moths and kill them that way 🤔🤪 As long as mankind tried to store food, there have been pests that try to profit from that. Metal containers seem to be the best way or glass jars, plastic bags and paper boxes get eaten away or penetrated. Those blue insect zap lights seem to do some protection, i think you have one actually if i'm not mistaken, but not so much for moths i guess. Good luck William and thank you for the hardness test.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Jeroen. These moths don't get attracted to the bug zapper like normal moths. I get a few, but most just hang out on the walls and laugh at me.

[@jeroenvoss6231]

@@WilliamsKnifeLife Those are the mutated evil ones, they are immune to the blue light. Say didn't you have some pelletguns and a blowpipe.....😃

[@tikofthetoka5650]

I'll guess 56 on the rock. Now I'll watch.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

👍

[@nitrorc4life1]

A harder Rockwell will result in a less tough edge, but longer edge retention. The softer, the tougher, why most striking tools(axes, choppers, hatchets etc) use a Rockwell down around 55hrc and lower and there are exceptions.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Marc 👍

[@diverdave2179]

Yeah, mothballs suck! And I see Boris isn't helping any Thanks for the demo, William!

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

I forgot how bad they smell & how long that smell sticks around.