AFNOR C135 Knife Steel
Composition Analysis Graph, Equivalents And Overview

C135(AFNOR) - C135 is a high carbon, low alloy steel. So far, I've only seen C135 used in straight razors from various manufacturers. Marketed as a new super steel for razors. C135 does have higher Carbon content than most of the carbon steels used in razors, but that's not the only criteria to judge the alloy performance. More interesting question is how each manufacturer is heat treating the C135 steel and are they getting the max performance out of it. Some sources refer to C135 as "high carbon surgical steel" which is obviously incorrect, there is nothing surgical about C135, it isn't stainless or stain resistant, no Chromium in it. Simple carbon steel. Rusts easy. Easy to sharpen and get high polished edge, even at high hardness. Also, several sources indicate max hardness of C135 as 62-65HRC, and market it as an improvement over other Carbon steels, when in fact a lot of Carbon steels with about 1% or more carbon can achieve 66HRC, as can C135. Good, old AISI 1095 steel, or C120U steel can do that for example. Especially in razors, where shock and impact resistance are not the issue. Yet another claim regarding C135 is that Carbon content is always precisely 1.35%, no variations. That would make its production very expensive and for no good reason I might add. As far as knives are concerned, C135 can be used for all types, form small, high efficiency cutters to large, heavy duty knives. C135 is not a high carbide volume alloy, so at high hardness it will benefit form thin, high polished edge. Straight razors definitely fall under that requirement.

Manufacturing Technology - Ingot

Country - France(FR)