Best steel for a bushaxe?

[whistlepig]

So while I was clearing my head and some scrub behind the house I decided to make a new bushaxe aka: ditch blade, bank blade etc.
I would have to file the "grinds" or maybe use the bench grinder??
It would be around 12" blade length.
I was thinking maybe 5160?
Suggestions ?
Thanks!

 

[M.FREEZE]

S-7, cpm 3v, L-6

 

[Camber]

5160, S7, L6, but I would stay away from 3V unless you plan on maintaining it with a belt sander. It's grindability is low and a ditch blade will suffer damage so something easy to grind with files or stones might be better. Plus 3V costs a lot more and you don't need it's wear resistance for this type of work.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

With your primitive equipment, 5160 is a good choice. When you can afford it, a good investment will be a 2X48 Craftsman grinder, or a full 2X72. Using the bench grinder is really a bad choice, as they chew up the blade pretty bad.

As much as I don't like angle grinders and untrained people, if you have a friend who can show you how to properly use one, an angle grinder with a thick grinding disc ( not a thin cut off disc) and the bar of steel firmly clamped to a 2X4 will rough shape the bevels fairly well.