Can Anyone Help Me Identify Steel?

[switchsticker]

i am fairly new to knifemaking.

is there any type of test to give a knife blade to determine what kind of steel it is?

 

[Guy Thomas]

It may be obvious but do you want to determine what steel a knife you have in your possesion is made of or are you trying to identify an unknown steel you want to make a knife from?

 

[blackboogers]

Put bluing solution on the blade (just a drop or slight rub) if it blues than its some type of carbon steel. If it doesnt than it may be some type of stainless. If you can grind some of it a really good shower of sparks can also be some type of carbon steel or there is some sparks with a orange glow where you are grinding can be some type of stainless. I would more trust the bluing solution.