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Böhler M398
If M390 is the gold standard, M398 is the obsession. Böhler pushed the chemistry further — more carbon, more vanadium — for makers who refuse to settle. Reserved at TRC for the HARPOON.
HARPOON in Böhler M398
TL;DR
M398 is what M390 owners graduate to when they want more of everything wear-related. Böhler’s figures show carbide volume roughly double M390’s, and independent CATRA-style testing puts edge retention at the very top of the stainless class — with the well-known trade-off, echoed across BladeForums, that sharpening realistically requires diamond plates.
Sources
Origin
Böhler-Uddeholm
Hardness
61–62 HRC (Harpoon)
Stainless
Yes (very high)
Best For
Pure cutting · collectors
The Story
If M390 is the gold standard, M398 is the obsession. Böhler pushed the chemistry further — more carbon, more vanadium, more wear resistance — and produced a steel for makers who refuse to settle. It is rare, demanding to work, and breathtaking in cut.
“Rare, demanding to work, breathtaking in cut.”
— TRC Workshop
Why TRC Chose M398
Reserved for the HARPOON, where pure cutting performance and rarity are the brief. TRC heat treatment for the HARPOON is 61–62 HRC.
TRC Knives in M398
Care
Excellent corrosion resistance. Diamond stones strongly recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
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