A new mystery steel

[peter nap]

I forged a hawk head from a Chinese brick hammer today. Strange stuff. It was all painted. I have no idea why because it is very stainless. (More on that in a second.

It is damned hard. A file wouldn't cut it.

It forged very badly, in fact it moved like D2.

It is also air hardened steel.

NOW THE STRANGE PART. After forging and grinding it and laughingly trying to temper it, I decided to etch it.

I used Ferric Chloride. It did not change color at all and that's why I say it's very stainless.

AND

It had a strong sulfur rotten egg smell while it was in it. I've never gotten that before.

But strangest of all, it foamed. The only thing I have ever had Ferric Chloride foam with was aluminum.

Any ideas?

 

[JCaswell]

A couple of the things you mentioned sound like it could be some sort of Chrome-molly. ---- others things you mentioned seem to contradict that, though.

 

[Mike Hull]

I've etched 440C in Ferric many times so it works on stainless, I guarantee. Gotta watch those mystery SS's. If they have a high Vanadium content, you can (to say the least), get very sick from the fumes created by forging it.