AMS 6516 Steel?

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Suprtek

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Jan 18, 2021
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Anyone know anything about AMS 6516 steel? I'm doing a project for a friend making a knife from a large bolt originally used to mount a tailhook to a navy F18. I had difficulty researching what it may be made from but I think there is a strong possibility it is AMS 6516. I cut off a small piece and forged it to about 1/8 thick, quenched it in water and snapped it with a hammer. It shattered into multiple pieces that appeared to have nice grain even though I did no thermal cycling. I've had great results from other unknown steel that didn't look nearly as good as this. I use a small propane forge but most of my shop is fairly primitive. I typically use a magnet to determine when to quench in vegetable oil and then temper in a standard oven at 450 for about an hour. Just wondering if there may be anything special I need to know about dealing with this steel. I still consider myself a novice so any info would be appreciated.
 
During my continued search, I discovered AMS 6516 stands for Aerospace Material Specification 6516. So apparently it is not a designation for an alloy, it is a set of requirements an alloy is required to meet. Not sure what those requirements are but I'm guessing its pretty good stuff.
 
Suprtek said:
Anyone know anything about AMS 6516 steel? I'm doing a project for a friend making a knife from a large bolt originally used to mount a tailhook to a navy F18. I had difficulty researching what it may be made from but I think there is a strong possibility it is AMS 6516. I cut off a small piece and forged it to about 1/8 thick, quenched it in water and snapped it with a hammer. It shattered into multiple pieces that appeared to have nice grain even though I did no thermal cycling. I've had great results from other unknown steel that didn't look nearly as good as this. I use a small propane forge but most of my shop is fairly primitive. I typically use a magnet to determine when to quench in vegetable oil and then temper in a standard oven at 450 for about an hour. Just wondering if there may be anything special I need to know about dealing with this steel. I still consider myself a novice so any info would be appreciated.
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1Cr – 10Ni – 7Co – 2Mo – 1.3W – 0.1V – (0.28 – 0.32Carbon)​

What you most need to know is that AMS 6516 is a low carbon steel, less than 0.32%. That's a lower carbon content than 420HC. Not particularly suitable for making knife blades. But it might be suitable for a tail hook. A tail hook needs to resist a huge amount of shock. So the alloy needs to be extremely tough. It will have few inclusions and a fine grain structure. But to make a blade you need an alloy with more carbon in it.

Unless there is a particular emotional attachment to making a knife from a tail hook, I'd find another piece of steel.
 
knarfeng said:

1Cr – 10Ni – 7Co – 2Mo – 1.3W – 0.1V – (0.28 – 0.32Carbon)​

What you most need to know is that AMS 6516 is a low carbon steel, less than 0.32%.

Unless there is a particular emotional attachment to making a knife from a tail hook, I'd find another piece of steel.
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I appreciate the information. What I don't understand is why it appeared to harden so well in my little test. I'd hate to give up on it but I also don't want to give a blade to a friend that is less than it should be.
 
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