Let's try again, John. I just finished reading a lot of reviews concerning this steel. Most people felt that the optimal HRC was around 61. Here is the a comment by a member of BF.

"I am remembering a discussion I had with someone a couple of years ago about Elmax. Can't remember who, but it was someone who had used the stuff. I do believe that Elmax is pretty darn tough (for stainless steel) and some people leave it a bit soft in order to enhance that toughness. His opinion was that you don't really give up much in the way of toughness by going over 60Rc, but what you gain is abrasion resistance, etc, that is not worse than like 80% of that you get with the crazy allowed stuff like M390, etc. and a steel that is tougher, easier to work with and a bit cheaper. One other thing I picked up for the B-U guy at Blade is the it really needs LN cold treatment for maximum effect. It is one of those alloys that needs to get about 15-20 degrees colder than you can typically get with dry ice.