Instructions - Heat Treating AEB-L Stainless Steel

Heat Treatment: the short version

Requires temperature control, like a thermocouple in gas forge, or better yet a kiln.

Heat to 1066 and hold for 15 min, quench in oil.

Put into kitchen freezer (as cold as you can get) for 30 mins.

Temper in 177 C for 1 hour > cool under tap > another 1 hours at 177 C.

This will give 58-60 HRC as final hardness.

There is way, way more info on Knifesteelnerds.com, this is a short summary of one of their suggested profiles.

Due to not requiring cryo, and the prequench step they experimented with provided little benefits.

For the full story and to make up your own mind: https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/03/04/all-about-aeb-l/