One of the new features of the Fallen Star Knife is the locking-bar Insert.  I decided to use CTS-XHP powdered stainless tool steel for the insert, because I wanted to use all USA made materials.  With the use of liquid nitrogen I cryogenically heat treated the inserts to a Rockwell "C" hardness of (63 HRC), after two tempers.  There were no issues that lead up to the development of the insert, it was just something that I had wanted to do.  For years, I had  carbidize the locking face of the 6AL-4V Titanium, without any issues using blade steels like CPM S35VN, CTS-204P, 154CM, and CTS-XHP.

With the Introduction of MagnaCut into my knives, I worried about the high hardness of the blades (64HRC), so I decided to bite the bullet and design a locking surface.  I continue to carbidize the titanium portion of the locking face that the insert rests inside, but now I have the mental reassurance that comes with XHP, that over time has proven to be very reliable for me over the years.