best steel for knife blades?

hmmm...interestig question that will get a lot of diferent answers.


What is the intended use of the knife you want to make and will you be forging or doing stock removal?

I like 5160 for my large bowies and camp knives....and I use 1075 and 0-1 on my smaller knives.....all these steels are high carbon and WILL rust if not taken care of.

Good luck on your quest for the "best" knife steel.
Mace
 
lol unobtanium,,,i like that one.
id say use what you can get .
5160 leaf springs, are great for me , because i have them laying around.
if and when i make a knife for sale i'll buy something new of a known quality.
at that time i'll pick a steel that will suite the knife im making.
 
Anything you buy from me :D

But seriously, there is no "best steel" that works for every knife, for instance, I love vascowear, but I'd never make a machete out of it, or a kitchen knife for that matter. and I love 52100, but it isn't right for every knife (and heck, I sell the stuff!)

A better question might be "what's your favorite steel for this type of knife"

Tony
 
The best steel is the one you can work and do a good job with.For beginners,O-1, 5160,and the 10XXsteels are good.For more advanced D-2,A-2,ATS-34,52100 are good,For experienced smiths with the equipment,The S30V to S120V steels,ZDP-189,and other exotic alloys are good.If there was one best steel we would all use it.Well,all of us except Indian George,who would use something else just to be different.
 
ysforge said:
Anything you buy from me :D

But seriously, there is no "best steel" that works for every knife, for instance, I love vascowear, but I'd never make a machete out of it, or a kitchen knife for that matter. and I love 52100, but it isn't right for every knife (and heck, I sell the stuff!)

A better question might be "what's your favorite steel for this type of knife"

Tony
Click to expand...
unless you want JDM5160 or 15N20 from me:foot:

:eek: Well you did it :D ;) so so can I :D

use an inexspenive good steel,, if you mess up your not out a lot and if it comes out good, you don't have a POS because of the steel :)
 
Use a steel that has good edge packing characteristics!



(just kidding, but wanted to wake up some of the sleeping giants that lurk on the forum!!!)
 
if you are forging, i bet you can find a structural steel dealer in your town who will sell you a 22 foot bar of 1/4 x 1 1/2 5160 AND cut it into managable 3 ft pieces for you for $60 to $70. That is enough for at least 20 BIG blades. costs money, but i did that for my first batch because i was unable to find suitabl leaf springs in my town that weren't still attached to a vehicle...lol
Joe Mandt
 
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