This phrase refers to a specific folding knife model, the Cold Steel 4-Max, and its blade steel, 20CV, undergoing hardness testing. Hardness testing measures a material’s resistance to permanent indentation. This process ensures the blade maintains a sharp edge under stress and provides data verifying the steel meets the manufacturer’s specifications for performance. An example would be subjecting the 20CV steel of a 4-Max knife to the Rockwell C scale, a common method for determining steel hardness.
Verifying blade hardness is crucial for ensuring the knife’s intended functionality. A blade with appropriate hardness can withstand wear and tear, holding a sharp edge longer. This attribute is essential for various applications, from everyday carry to more demanding tasks. Understanding steel hardness provides consumers with quantifiable data regarding a knife’s durability and performance potential. Historically, knife makers have employed various methods to achieve the desired hardness in their blades, with modern metallurgical advancements and standardized testing ensuring greater consistency and reliability.
