The four-point bending test was used to study the adhesion of CrN coatings on tool steel, and to determine the X-ray elastic constants (XECs) for (311) and (200) crystallographic reflections of such (220)-textured coating. The coating was found to have a nano-microstructure with anisotropic elastic properties. The compressive residual stress in the coating was measured to be high. Plastic deformation in the substrate tool steel with the four-point bending test did not cause flaking of the coating, but can cause tensile transverse cracking when the compressive residual stress is relaxed. A comparison was made between the macroscopic Young’ modulus values obtained from the XECs of the (hkl) planes examined at orientation factors (3 Gamma) of zero, 0.471 and 0.6. These macroscopic values were found to be close to the XEC value of the (311) reflection.