15N20 as blade material?

JayGoliath

JayGoliath

Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
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Howdy.
I've seen 15N20 in many damascus steel (most commonly with 1095). It was also closely related to L6 but never on the same breath.
Maybe i haven't seen enough WIP or knives on display but i just don't see any blade made solely in 15N20.

Here's an old thread asking the same question i do:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...pinions-on-15n20-as-a-stand-alone-blade-steel

A friend recently have a hunting knife made entirely from 15N20 stock and upon sticking the hog, the surface contact starts pitting from the blood.
Is it the rust issue?

Thanks for your comment.
J
 
The only real true advise I can offer is:
Take care of it and it will last. Abuse it and it will rust."

Without knowing a lot more about the blade you mention and the HT of it, I will only say that the stories of immediate pitting from blood and such don't add up. Sure, if you leave the blade covered in blood/food/tomato juice/etc....it will rust and pit. Other than that, any basic carbon blade cleaned off when used, and washed and oiled as soon as practical will not "pit/rust before your eyes" ( a term often used).

L6 and 15N20 both make great blades. Many ABS test knives have been made from them.

You also regularly hear the "rusting/pitting" claims about O-1.

Blade maintenance is the key to any blade not rusting or pitting.
Storing a blade in the sheath is the number one cause of pitting.
Most likely the blade was pitted already, and when cleaning it up after dressing the hog, the pits were more visible.
 
I've made quite a few blades from 15N20, several are used in the kitchen. I tend to prefer Carbon steel kitchen knives, I like the edge and the sharpening advantages. They do tend to stain and discolor to a gray patina....Take Care...Ed
 
Blood IS corrosive ! It contains salt and there is reaction with hemoglobin.I don't know the specific reaction but hemoglobin has in it both iron and oxygen. It doesn't take more than a minute to clean a blade, do it.
 
I have made probably 3 dozen knives from 15n20, it is incredibly durable and takes a great edge. Most of mine I forced a patina on using mustard, to help prevent rust.
 
awesome, awesome for thin kitchen knives and thin, aggressive, tough as nails bushcrafters.
 
I use 15n20 for the carbon blades of my petty kitchen knives. I love the properties of this steel. It does patina well, and maybe a mustard finish on it would be a good thing for you, just dab it on the blade or even make patterns. As far as it being like L6, it is pretty much 1075 with 2% nickel. Heat treat it in a med. fast oil. I have used this being tempered at 375 and it takes a mean edge and lasts for a looong time.
 
JayGoliath said:
Howdy.
I've seen 15N20 in many damascus steel (most commonly with 1095). It was also closely related to L6 but never on the same breath.
Maybe i haven't seen enough WIP or knives on display but i just don't see any blade made solely in 15N20.

Here's an old thread asking the same question i do:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...pinions-on-15n20-as-a-stand-alone-blade-steel

A friend recently have a hunting knife made entirely from 15N20 stock and upon sticking the hog, the surface contact starts pitting from the blood.
Is it the rust issue?

Thanks for your comment.
J
Click to expand...
I'm going to suggest that the closest match in terms of toughness, edge retention and hardness, plus heat treatment needs (especially if you're going for lower bainite "spring temper"), is 8670m steel to make pattern welded steel with 15n20. The problem is getting 15n20 in large enough sizes and 8670m in the UK, rather than 8670, which is still good, but doesn't have the addition of Molybdenum.
 
Cupar said:
I'm going to suggest that the closest match in terms of toughness, edge retention and hardness, plus heat treatment needs (especially if you're going for lower bainite "spring temper"), is 8670m steel to make pattern welded steel with 15n20. The problem is getting 15n20 in large enough sizes and 8670m in the UK, rather than 8670, which is still good, but doesn't have the addition of Molybdenum.
Click to expand...
Hello C Cupar
This thread is 13 years old and the OP hasn't logged on in almost 1-1/2 years. This is called necroposting and is generally frowned upon.
 
Sat my Highers at Waid Academy in Anstruther, Fife. Just up the road from Cupar. That was in 76/77. Lil while back.
 
BTW when a thread is this old just start a new one if you have something to say on the subject or have a similar question.
 
I was a history nut so been to Falkland many times. We played Glenrothes in sports. Particularly I remember basketball. Although since we were such a small school kinda did everything. Was on the First Fifteen, Captain of the Basketball team and the Volleyball team. Several others and track and field too. Funny story there. Don’t remember if we played Freuchie or not. PM and I’ll tell ya the funny basketball story.
 
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