H-1 not popular?

[abo4ster]

Is there a particular reason there are not any custom makers offering H-1? Particulary those that make neck knives?

H-1 just seems like a natural fit for small neck knives that would be exposed to sweat. Performs similiarly to 440A with no corrision, correct?

 

[Joshua J.]

I think "hard to get" is the reason. You'd have to special order it from Japan. Even then the stuff is a pain to work with, as it comes from the foundry fully hardened.

 

[CL01]

I thought it performed better than 440A, but if it doesn't, that might be another reason custom makers don't use it.

 

[jlfletcher83]

Sal mentioned something about it being pretty hard to work with. I think it is a great steel, but it has to be ground a special way.

 

[yablanowitz]

It is a Japanese product, it is rather expensive, it gets harder as you grind it (gets up around Rc 67 or 68) and is generally a PITA to work with. Performance is generally better than 440A, but the big draw is being totally rust-proof. Even a little necker would likely cost twice as much in H-1 as it would in 440C, which is pretty rust resistant.