Understanding Machete Blade Material Selection: High Carbon Spring Steel

Introduction

Explore the meticulous selection of materials in Gear Machete’s production process, focusing on the high-quality 50Mn and 65Mn spring steels. Understanding the machete blade material selection and the various methods used to achieve precision and sharpness will give you a deeper appreciation of the quality and craftsmanship involved. At Gear Machete, we ensure that every blade meets the highest standards of excellence.

Gear Machete’s Material Selection

High-Quality Spring Steel

Gear Machete’s machetes are crafted using high-carbon spring steel, specifically 50Mn and 65Mn, they are Machete Blade Material best Selection. These materials are transported to the factory in cold-rolled steel coils and then cut to size. The high-carbon spring steel 65Mn (Chinese standard GB/T 1222-2007) is equivalent to SAE1070, while 50Mn (Chinese standard GB/T 699-1999) is equivalent to SAE1055. Let’s compare.

Element	65Mn (GB/T 1222)	SAE 1070	50Mn (GB/T 699)	SAE 1050
Carbon (C)	0.62 – 0.70%	0.67 – 0.75%	0.48 – 0.56%	0.47 – 0.55%
Silicon (Si)	0.17 – 0.37%	0.17 – 0.37%	0.17 – 0.37%	0.15 – 0.35%
Manganese (Mn)	0.90 – 1.20%	0.50 – 0.80%	0.70 – 1.00%	0.60 – 0.90%
Phosphorus (P)	≤0.025%	≤0.04%	≤0.025%	≤0.04%
Sulfur (S)	≤0.020%	≤0.05%	≤0.020%	≤0.05%

Property	65Mn	SAE 1070	50Mn	SAE 1050
Hardness (HRC)	54–58	53–58	45–52	45–52
Toughness	High (with proper tempering)	High	Medium-High	Medium-High
Elasticity (Spring Behavior)	Excellent	Good	Moderate	Moderate
Wear Resistance	Excellent	Good	Moderate	Moderate
Workability	Moderate	Moderate	Good	Good

Application	65Mn	SAE 1070	50Mn	SAE 1050
High-performance machetes	✅	✅	—	—
Sugarcane knives	✅	✅	✅ (lower grade)	✅
Springs & saw blades	✅	✅	❌	❌
Shovels, hoes	—	—	✅	✅
Automotive springs	✅	✅	❌	❌
Low-cost cutting tools	❌	❌	✅	✅

Feature	65Mn / SAE 1070	50Mn / SAE 1050
Carbon & Mn content	Higher	Lower
Hardness potential	Higher	Moderate
Wear resistance	Strong	Normal
Elasticity / Springiness	Excellent	Moderate
Rust tendency	Higher (needs anti-rust treatment)	Moderate
Best for	Premium machetes, springs	Basic tools, entry-level machetes