difference between 5160 &1095

seventrees · Feb 5, 2001

given the same quality heat treatment and knife maker what steel would you choose for hard use bowie or camp knife ranging from 7" to 9-1/2" and why? thanks,seventrees

Alberta Ed · Feb 5, 2001

5160 might be a little tougher and 1095 might hold a better edge... but whatever your're cutting probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The perfect solution, of course, is to buy one of each.

Mike Turber · Feb 5, 2001

The correct answer is 4065

I will be back later if not answered but I could not resist

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TheMartialWay · Feb 5, 2001

Ha Ha, good one Mike.

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rdangerer · Feb 5, 2001

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Alberta Ed:
5160 might be a little tougher and 1095 might hold a better edge... but whatever your're cutting probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The perfect solution, of course, is to buy one of each.</font>

Ed nailed it, right on. Jerry Fisk prefers 5160 for knives that get used. 1095 is fine too.

0170-6 (alias Carbon V at Cold Steel) holds an edge better than both, so does O1. If either is differentially heat treated, I'd prefer them both and wouldn't try to bend the knife past 40 degrees in ANY case, and would dodge nails and rocks if chopping.

Actually, I'd rather take a knife outta CPM3V than all those, but you pay a premium.

It gets expensive to have people forge 52100 out of anything bigger than 4"-6", and it isn't as strictly tough as 5160 or 1095, but has a finer grain when heat treated right, so is a very good edge holder also, and is PLENTY tough if differentially heat treated. See the Montana crew (Fowler, Dunkerly, others) for such if you can afford.

Yvsa · Feb 6, 2001

:
The Himalayan Imports Khukuri's are made from Mercedes Benz truck springs which are supposed to be 5160.
All the ones I have take and hold an edge wonderfully.
The heat treat means everything no matter what kind of steel is used.

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Cliff Stamp · Feb 8, 2001

5160 is more wear resistant than 1095 and more corrosion resistant. However in a large camp knife neither of these are primary concerns, they are nice to have but there are other things that are far more important.

1095 is significantly tougher than 5160 but also much weaker. So you have to pick which one best suits your needs. 5160 will take a thinner profile and stand up to more lateral forces (edge and main blade body), but the 1095 will do the same in regard to impacts.

Personally, having deformed and bent several 1095 blades, but not having chipped out 5160 khukuris even when hitting them so hard so as to really dent up the edge - I would go with 5160.

But the maker and how he handles the steel would play a major part in the decision. There are lots of makers I would pick over a steel type.

-Cliff

Ted Frizzell · Feb 7, 2001

5160 is definitly your choice for heavy choppers. Have ground up tons of it. Another plus is the small amount of chromium it contains. I've seen 1095 rust up just showing it to a bucket of cooling water.

Ted Frizzell
Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works