Camp knife steel recommendations

[PlayMaker]

svbgthyu

 

[Wabajack]

I'd go with 52100.

 

[A C Richards]

Made ones very similar. 5160 and 52100 worked great. L-6 would also be a good choice.

Chuck

 

[J.S. Carter]

I too would go with 5160, L6, 01, or 1095 however i'd thicken the spine to atleast 3/16 - 1/4" I'd even go so far as to say I'd just use one of the old GMC/Chevy truck leaf springs I have laying around to forge it from, they are normally 1095 / 5160 and come in 2" - 3" wide x 3/8"s thick by 3 feet long. Good stuff! cheap too at junk yards.

 

[Todd Robbins]

If price is of no concern, I'd go with the 3v and have Bos heat treat it. If price is a problem, 5160, L-6, or 1075/80. If it was a knife I was forging for myself, I'd just use one of the old leaf springs or a piece of one of the old saw blades I've got laying around. If it was for a paying customer, I'd use new steel. I'd also go with a little thicker spine, unless it's mainly going to be used on softer stuff.

Todd

 

[Sam Salvati]

A2 hands down.

 

[sunshadow]

so you're going to share your A2 HT secrets then ?

-Page

 

[flatgrinder]

Definitely 5160 fully hardened and tempered at 350 with a soft-back draw.