Paragon Knife Oven - KM14

The KM14 reaches 2350°F, which covers virtually all knife-making steels including high-carbon steels (1095, 1084, 15N20, 52100), tool steels (O1, A2, D2), and many stainless alloys (440C, AEB-L, 154CM). This temperature range handles the austenitizing requirements for proper hardening. Most carbon steels harden between 1450-1550°F, tool steels between 1450-1850°F, and stainless steels between 1850-2050°F. The programmable controller lets you dial in the exact temperature for your specific steel alloy and hold the soak time needed for complete transformation.

The gas inlet port is optional but highly recommended for bladesmiths working with stainless steels or seeking bright finishes. Without atmosphere control, blades will form scale (oxidation) during heat treating which must be removed by grinding. Introducing an inert atmosphere like argon or nitrogen prevents oxidation and decarburization, resulting in cleaner blades with minimal surface cleanup. This is especially important for stainless steels like 440C or AEB-L which form heavy chromium oxide scale in air. Carbon steel makers often skip atmosphere control since they're grinding bevels post-heat-treat anyway, but it's essential for stainless or for makers wanting minimal stock removal.

The KM14 includes the Sentry Xpress 3 controller as standard equipment, which offers 12-segment programming sufficient for most heat treating cycles. You can program multi-step processes including preheat ramps, austenitizing soaks, and tempering cycles. The Genesis touchscreen is available as an upgrade either at time of purchase or retrofitted later—it adds expanded program storage (100 programs vs. 12), a color touchscreen interface, data logging, and graphical temperature curve display. Many knife makers start with the Sentry Xpress 3 and upgrade to Genesis once they're running production volumes and want to store dedicated programs for each steel type they use regularly.

The KM14's 14-inch chamber depth accommodates blades up to 13 inches long, making it ideal for chef's knives, bowies, and large fixed blades. Paragon offers smaller models for shorter blades (folders, small EDC knives) and larger models for swords or production batching. The KM14 hits the sweet spot for custom knife makers working on full-size kitchen and hunting knives—it's large enough to heat treat multiple blades simultaneously or handle long chef's knives, but compact enough for a home workshop. The dual voltage option (120V/240V) also makes it accessible for shops without dedicated 240V circuits, though 240V provides faster heating if you have it available.

Paragon's one-year warranty is only valid when purchased through authorized dealers like Peach State Pottery, and you must register the oven within 30 days of delivery. Authorized dealers provide proper pre-delivery inspection, accurate electrical specifications for your installation, and technical support for heat treating questions specific to knife making. We help you determine the correct voltage configuration for your workshop, advise on atmosphere control options, and provide guidance on heat treating protocols for different steel alloys. Purchasing from unauthorized sources or used equipment voids the warranty and leaves you without factory support for an oven that's critical to your bladesmithing work.