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All things being equal, 1095 vs. O1
- Thread starter Crayola
- Start date
I am interested in answers to this topic myself. I use a lot of 0-1. My understanding is that 1095 may be a little trickier to heat treat (must get it quenched faster). I am not sure how much difference in performance there will be. You can sure get 1095 at cheaper price than 0-1. However, if you are doing stock removal, the 0-1 is precision ground as opposed to the Hr or Cra finnish on the 1095. I would like to also know the difference(s) in 1084.
Very interesting question! with out doing a side by side comparison, I would expect that the additional alloying elements in O-1 would make it easier to heat treat, less susceptable to grain growth etc. But not drastically so. As for the difference between 1095 and 1084...well, i have used 1085 and file steel, which i an assuming is 1095ish. or even a little higher carbon, and the difference is very noticable. the higher carbon steel is noticably harder in all conditions, annealed or hardened(which is not to say that the 1085 is not hard enough, its "glass' hard before tempering), and it takes a higher tempering temperature to get the same working harness. I think that 1095 is inherently somewhat more brittle than 1085, but when I hear about 1095 knives chipping at the edge, I conclude that the knife is too hard at the edge for that usage(or maybe even too hard for any reasonable hard use), and would have been better with a little higher tempering temperature. Or a little thicker at the edge for added strength, but that begins to degrade the super keeness achievable with 1095. Subjectively 1095 seems to lend itself to an optimum polished edge, while 1085 seems optimum with a micro-serration type edge, unstropped, as is from the stone.
Arthur Washburn
Knifemaker and AMC Freak
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2000
- Messages
- 1,653
You are correct about needing to quench the 1095 quicker tejas7. Of these three steels the 1095 has the least amount of Manganese. Manganese aids in deep hardening of the steel. 1084 offers an more forgiving heat treat. The 1084 offers a good balance of hardness and ease of use when compared to the 1095. But both are good choices for working knives when done properly.
As for the O1 it has Vanadium with helps form vandium carbides which is advantageous. It also has other elements that aid is toughness, wear resitance and stain resitance. It is also a good choice for a working knife.
1095 C .90/1.04 Mn .30/.50
1084 C .80/.94 Mn .60/.90
O1 C .95 Mn 1.2 Si .30 Cr .50 Va. 20 W .50
Arthur D. Washburn
ADW Custom Knives
As for the O1 it has Vanadium with helps form vandium carbides which is advantageous. It also has other elements that aid is toughness, wear resitance and stain resitance. It is also a good choice for a working knife.
1095 C .90/1.04 Mn .30/.50
1084 C .80/.94 Mn .60/.90
O1 C .95 Mn 1.2 Si .30 Cr .50 Va. 20 W .50
Arthur D. Washburn
ADW Custom Knives