Buffalo rasp

[buckaroo2219]

I was given 12 Buffalo brand rasps today. I can't seem to find much information on the steel used. Anyone know if they are 1095 or W1 or a case harden low carbon steel.

 

[Boogaloo]

You can snap one in half in a vise to check it out. A case hardened steel will have distinct coloration in low carbon core vs hardened surface.

 

[buckaroo2219]

Thanks. I cut off a tang on one of the filed and heat treated it in my oven. Quench in brine. Put it in the vise and it broke clean. I also ground and heat treated a blade today. A file skated on it without any marked so it looks like I'm good to go.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Buckaroo ( and others):
Just for info, mild steel will harden enough to snap in a vice bend test when water/brine quenched, and can skate a file. It only takes about 20 points of carbon to get brittle. This "test" is often quoted on the internet, but is pretty much useless as a qualitative test. Mild steel can reach Rc48-50 as quenched. That sounds soft to the novice, but most knife blades were in that area for all but the last 100 years. Even 50 years ago, few knives were more than Rc54. Knife blades in the Rc 60 plus range are a very new thing.

Take a piece of plain old Home Depot welding steel and try it out for yourself.