- Joined
- Apr 21, 2006
- Messages
- 5,610
Once again not speaking for Sal. Brittle is relative. All stainless in this class is brittle compared to 1095 at rc 55-57, or 5160 at rc 56, etc. If done well it's not bad, no. 440C is worse at being brittle at the edge than ATS 34, but that too is relative. If done at 45-50 degrees inclusive and higher with a heat treat designed more for toughness even 440C stainless can do impact type chopping jobs on wood. It's difficult doing blanket statements like "XY 320 steel is too weak for batoning" unless you add " through knots in gunge wood". Batoning soft pine might be fine for XY 320 steel.
All these steels can be made to work for some tasks, and all of them can be done to where they are completely unsuitable others. It's a series of compromises made by the cutler who designs geometry and heat treat for certain tasks and customers. It can go wrong at times but in general it works great knowing that certain customers may need to modify edge angles and others are fine with the way it is.
Joe
All these steels can be made to work for some tasks, and all of them can be done to where they are completely unsuitable others. It's a series of compromises made by the cutler who designs geometry and heat treat for certain tasks and customers. It can go wrong at times but in general it works great knowing that certain customers may need to modify edge angles and others are fine with the way it is.
Joe
Last edited: