Microtech Amphibian m390mk Rockwell testing results are in! Let's see how it did!

Thank you for sharing these results. I wasn't expecting such a great number. Now, I want to know about the MSI HRC numbers; many say that it's around 58 or so... :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)

I look forward to seeing the results for the Spyderco Military 2; one of my personal favorite Work Knives... very informative Video. :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)

Its possible they saw how low they were and increased hardness. Cause the majority tested were 57 to 59.

Thanks, Nick!

great info and great that Billy has than machine

Cool 😎

Glad all three of those samples tested within the advertised range and optimal to boot. It's a good day. Thanks for your trust bro.

👍🏻

Thanks for sharing this buddy! Good stuff!

It is always good to see when companies do a good job on heat treat but I have not had any luck with M390. I’ve had probably 5 different knives and they didn’t impress me.

My daily carry is normally k390, Rex45, or aus8 or 10 cause I have a lot of Cold Steel knives. I like to have a good tool steel knife and a regular stainless type to beat on as I cut rope, wire, and thick zip ties at work.

This Amphibian...swims...😊

If you don't mind me asking, what was the manufacture date of the knife you tested? A friend of mine wants to know if his Stick made in 06/23 would also be around 61-62 HRC. Thanks in advance, and much appreciation from me confirming that Microtech upped thier game on the heat treat.

Microtech is crushing it this last year or so with many new introductions and multiple upgrades across the lineup!

One important note - at least for me, I like S35, S45, M390 and 20CV because even if they are soft, they still have great toughness, corrosion resistance and are easy to sharpen - I can live with mediocre edge retention if I can get it crazy sharp and easy to sharpen. One of my favorite knives is an older Large Inkosi in pretty soft S35 but I don’t cut so much that it matters and the knife is easy to get hair popping sharp when I do sharpen it (every year or so). Magnacut I am not sure about, it’s very sensitive to heat treat and I have seen tests where it chips when hard, has worse retention than M390 when it’s soft - it’s a sensitive steel and I’m good with the older steels.

A knife like this should be on the top end of the HRC standards. Otherwise, using a designer ultra steel is pointless.

Dagger/double edged/fine tipped blades and bushcraft/chopper knives need a little more toughness. I can understand a point or two lower HRC IF it actually increases toughness.

Thanks for the data point!

Can’t wait for the ABW button lock test. My current favorite carry

I have an LUDT Gen 3 made 11/2023.. Do you think it’s got the higher HRC?

Microtech appears to be the only USA manufacturer actually trying to get better.