416 stainless or 303 stainless

flatgrinder

flatgrinder

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
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I'm thinking about making a large bowie (10" blade) and noticed that some makers use 303 stainless whereas others use 416 stainless for the guard.

As I understand it, 303 stainless is easier to machine than 416, but is softer and unheat-treatable. Whereas 416 can be heat treated.

-Which one is preferable?

-If I use 416, does it have to be heat treated?

-Also, what's the difference between 304 and 316 stainless?

Any advice would be really appreciated! Thanks! :thumbup:
 
Thanks for the reply and the link!

I'll be going with 316 for it's corrosion resistance, machinability and increased toughness over 304. Plus I don't have to heat treat it.
 
Maybe, I am so much of a newbie that I am not aware of this, but I believe if you plan on making a knife out of any steel, then you will need to heat treat it. There are people here that are more capable of answering this question like maybe Stacy Apelt or Mete...

Hopefully they will chime in here.
 
Gigemtxaggies said:
Maybe, I am so much of a newbie that I am not aware of this, but I believe if you plan on making a knife out of any steel, then you will need to heat treat it. There are people here that are more capable of answering this question like maybe Stacy Apelt or Mete...

Hopefully they will chime in here.
Click to expand...


The steel in question is for the guard, not the blade.
 
I would use 416 and it does not need to be heat treated. Make sure your pinstock is 416 as well.
-John
 
Flat grinder, I have found that 416 is much easier to machine. The 300 series is real gummy and hard on end mills and drills. If you are cutting slots for blades, Run if fairly fast on the tool but use a slow feed and a good lube like majic tap or cool tool . It can be heat treated, it gets to about RC 48 max, but I have been using it for years non heat treated for fillet knife gaurds and have had no corrosion problems. Phil
 
416 machines and files a lot more easily than 303 or 316 and takes a good enough polish too.

The latter have a high percentage of Chrome and Nickel which makes them a lot more stain resistant but also very tough and "gummy". I machine both on a regular basis and I avoid the 3 series types when I can. Tool killers.
416 is magnetic, if that matters to you, whereas the 3 series stainless are not. Also, if this will be for a guard you will find the 416 takes solder more readily as well.

Hope that helps.:)

Mike
 
We posted at the same time Phil, looks like you beat me to it by a nose.
Good to see we agree though.;)

Mike
 
Thanks for all the replies. They are really helpful.

Does anyone know where I can find some 3/8" x 2" x 12" 416 SS flat bar?

Thank you all again! :thumbup:
 
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