RWL34 is named after the world famous knife maker Robert W Loveless, January 2, 1929 – September 2, 2010. Bob Loveless or RW Loveless was an American knife maker who designed and popularized the hollow ground drop point blade and the use of full tapered tangs and screw-type handle scale fasteners within the art of knife making. He is cited by other knife makers and collectors as one of the most innovative custom knife makers in the world.
Bob discovered the use of the Japanese made ball bearing steel ATS34 from Kobe Steel as best suited for his high demands for a stainless hardenable knife steel. Pelle Billgren the founder of Damasteel was in search for the best stainless knife steels and learnt what Bob had discovered. Pelle was able to transform the already good ATS34 into a superior Powder Metallurgy made steel.
Damasteel was the first in the world to produce a powder metallurgy version of the ATS34 named RWL34 after Bob Loveless. Today the RWL34 is made in the world’s most modern powder metallurgy manufacturing facility ensuring an incomparable cleanliness.
RWL34 is particular successful product with very high strength and toughness combined with extreme edge sharpness that is easy to maintain. RWL34™ most appreciated features among knife makers are the ease to work with and the ability to mirror finish polish. RWL34™ is a steel in line with Bob‘s uncompromising thinking of quality and usability.
RWL-34 is a martensitic stainless steel produced by the Rapid Solidified Powder (RSP) process. A martensitic variant of the 420 stainless steel family, it combines a minimum of 13% chromium with molybdenum and vanadium to yield a corrosion-resistant steel that also has high hardenability and excellent grinding and polishing characteristics. Collectively, these qualities give it all the traits necessary in a high-performance knife steel.
Carbon 1.05%
Chromium 14.00%
Manganese 0.50%
Molybdenum 4.00%
Silicon 0.50%
Vanadium 0.20%
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