Experimental kitchen knives - but what is the steel ??

J

Jason Cutter

Joined
Oct 9, 2002
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I was hoping someone could help me with info.

Here are 2 of many experimental kitchen knives I have been testing heavily. They are rough finished and have the "used" patina all over them. The bottom one is an accidental inclusion in the photo but is a proven design ...

THE UPPER KNIFE - --

6inch "Chef's" design with a super thin (1/32") blade cut and ground from a discarded crosscut (hand) saw. Convexed the bottom 1/2inch to a zero edge. Handles - Cocobolo coloured Dymondwood. You can see from the inset the amount of flex it delivers, always returning to 100% true. I could flex it more but it would get too dangerous for the photo.

Definitely high carbon steel - spark test; Carbon steel - it stains readily. 7 cut portions from the blade show the whole blade is the same steel. Is hardened - Can't be drilled, very, very difficult to file. Won't hold an edge like O-1 or 1095 - (maybe 60%). Takes a superb wire edge with a honing steel, cuts like crazy ... As a kitchen knife I love it.

The maker of the saw won't tell me what steel it is... ??? I'm thinking maybe a spring-tempered L-6. Certainly wouldn't be anything fancy or exotic...

Question - WHAT STEEL IS IT ??

orig
 
I have some 12" diamond lapidary blades that a friend gave me. I have researched the steel as much as I can and it seems the most likely possibilities are L6 or 1050. When I get around to cutting them up, I will try heat treating a small piece and see if it air hardens. If so that will indicate that it may be L6. I was going to do it this weekend, but got sidetracked.
 
Nice work, cant tell about the steel, but I realy like the bottom one, looks real handy
 
I've run into this situation before where the manufacturer won't tell me what steel they're using. Had one outfit accuse me of being the competition once when I talked to them on the phone.:rolleyes:
Like the competition has never heard of sending a sample to a lab for testing to see what the steel contains. Jeez! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

My bestest edumacated guess would be L-6 or similar steel. Very interesting designs and user friendly looking handles on that pair of knives too. Good luck with ID'ing the steel.


All the best,
Mike U.
 
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