Finding 5160 bar stock

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Sep 19, 2022
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17
Hello all, Newbie here hoping for some direction in finding someone who has 5160 in 2" width and either .125 (1/8th) or .156 (5/32) thickness. Preferably 12" + long.
I have been using 1095 exclusively but was reading that 5160 would be better against corrosion because of its properties.
I have looked at RMP, USA Knife, Knifemaking.com, and a few others while searching Ebay and Amazon.

Thanks for any help.
Jason
 
I don't know who said 5160 is more corrosion resistant than 1095, but that is not true. The only corrosion resistance from chromium requires at least 10% Cr.
Despite people's personal preferences and anecdotal references, all carbon steels rust and corrode pretty much the same.
 
I don't know who said 5160 is more corrosion resistant than 1095, but that is not true. The only corrosion resistance from chromium requires at least 10% Cr.
Despite people's personal preferences and anecdotal references, all carbon steels rust and corrode pretty much the same.
My personal preferences and anecdotal experience refutes that! 🤣
I don't know if the 1% Cr in 5160 makes any difference, but 3V at 7.5% is much more stain resistant than A2 at 5%. Larrin has written about the details of corrosion resistance and part of the idea behind Magnacut was to have superior resistance at 10.7%, beating steels with 14 and even 18% Cr.
 
My personal preferences and anecdotal experience refutes that! 🤣
I don't know if the 1% Cr in 5160 makes any difference, but 3V at 7.5% is much more stain resistant than A2 at 5%. Larrin has written about the details of corrosion resistance and part of the idea behind Magnacut was to have superior resistance at 10.7%, beating steels with 14 and even 18% Cr.
So I guess this is leading down the avenue of "how do I get 5160?" OR "is there a similar alternative to 5160 that is still relatively easy to work with, and that I have a better chance of finding in those dimensions?" Again I've only worked with 1095. I was looking to take a small step toward better quality steel for 10" fixed blade woodman/hunting type knives I am making.
 
What makes you think that 5160 is a “better quality steel” than 1095?

It has a different chemistry than 1095, but I don’t know how that necessarily translates into better quality. Is there some performance or task qualities that you are looking to improve that 5160 outperforms 1095 in?
 
So I guess this is leading down the avenue of "how do I get 5160?" OR "is there a similar alternative to 5160 that is still relatively easy to work with, and that I have a better chance of finding in those dimensions?" Again I've only worked with 1095. I was looking to take a small step toward better quality steel for 10" fixed blade woodman/hunting type knives I am making.
80crv2 or 8670
 
Thanks Buhlman, If 5160 is similar to 1095 but with better corrosion resistant properties (something I read in an online comparison) I would lean toward 5160.
Devin thank you as well.
Ill have to read about 80crv2 and 8670. What is a good source for comparing of stock metals?
 
The book “Knife Engineering” by Dr. Larrin Thomas will have the comparison charts, heat treat recipes, and tons if metallurgical science information for you to geek out on and agonize over. I think you may be surprised when you see actual empirical data over anecdotal internet chatter with respect to not only the differences in properties of the steels you are interested in, but also the similarities.
 
I wasn't looking to become that proficient at "metallurgical science" and reading is physically difficult for me. I was advised by a very successful blacksmith to try and keep things simple and master my craft instead. Thats why I have been trying to find information on the internet. It's also easier for me to read and often more up to date. I'm only looking for a handful of options, not the Holy Grail.
I thought this would be a place where others that have been in my shoes might be willing to help "dumb it down" a bit for someone looking for options in steel.
 
I wasn't looking to become that proficient at "metallurgical science" and reading is physically difficult for me. I was advised by a very successful blacksmith to try and keep things simple and master my craft instead. Thats why I have been trying to find information on the internet. It's also easier for me to read and often more up to date. I'm only looking for a handful of options, not the Holy Grail.
I thought this would be a place where others that have been in my shoes might be willing to help "dumb it down" a bit for someone looking for options in steel.
If you want less reading and more doing, then pick up some of the steel that Devin suggested and get to it. He has several decades of experience and his son wrote the book that you don't want to read.
 
Never said I "don't want to read" the book, did I? I said it is physically difficult. I didn't think I would need to explain it, but I had a stroke that screwed up my vision.
Not sure what the hell I did to some of you, but I can read condescension and sarcasm just fine.
Thanks for making me feel SOOO welcome here.
 
I'm sorry it came across that way. Looking back over the thread I'd say you got some good advice. You can also look at the knifesteelnerds website for various articles and info on specific steels.
 
The book I recommended has many graphs and visual aids in addition to the text. You can skip the science and still get the info you want from the graphs. It’s very helpful to compare the steels you are asking about.

When you use qualitative terms like better, best, higher quality, etc. it makes it difficult to gleen what you mean by that. 1095 is a very high quality high carbon steel. You could easily argue that 5160 is also. But the have different strengths in different categories of comparison. Neither are good at corrosion resistance, and the difference between the two with respect to corrosion resistance is hardly worth discussing.

I’m a new maker, too. I’ve used 5160, 1075, and right now I’m working with some 15n20. I’ve only forged the 5160, and I’ve done stock removal with each. I don’t know that I have enough expertise or experience to say that either is notably different than the other in performance. Other guys here that have hundreds or thousands of blades made probably have firmer opinions. But in terms of forgeability and ease of heat treating, any of the steels mentioned in this thread are going to be close. Corrosion resistance isn’t a strongpoint for any of them, except the Ni content in 15n20 might give you a little extra acid resistance.

I also have the 8670 & 80crv2, but haven’t worked with them yet.
 
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Admiral Steel has 5160 in 1/4" x 2" x 264"
I have no comment on the differences between steels. As others have mentioned KnifeSteelNerds. com is a good resource
 
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