Hardness question

[Britt_Askew]

I have searched and can find a lot of info about what temps you need to achieve the hardness you are after but I cant find much info for the desired hardness for different type knives. I have ground several styles of blades in 1095 and want to make sure I am shooting for the right hardness. Do these numbers sound good?

1/8" Neck knife 57-58
1/8" Drop point hunter 57-58
1/8" Bushcraft style with scandi grind 56-57
3/32" Nessmuk style 58-59
1/16" and 3/32" Kitchen knife 58-59

 

[Overmountain]

The answer is a resounding it depends. Generally the larger the knife and the more hacking its gonna do the softer you want it to be. Small knives that are lighter duty and doing finesse work can be harder. The grind of the knife, depth and area of the initial heat treat, and desired end purpose all play a roll.
Make some knives, use the heck out of em, and see what worked and what didn't. I have a ballpark I shoot for that is based on that exact strategy.
Another great way to get some really good ballpark ideas is another approach I employ. Find a custom knife made if the same material as you want to use in generally the same style made by a respected maker and see if they will tell you what they were shooting for and why. Best way to speed up the learning curve is to learn from other's mistakes and hopefully avoid making them on your own...

 

[Mudbug007]

Best way to speed up the learning curve is to learn from other's mistakes and hopefully avoid making them on your own...

That is some of the best advice a new maker will ever receive. When I first started, I regarded the act of buying a few custom knives in the styles I liked by makers that were respected, as an investment. No different than buying a grinder or drill press.

What I learned by handling and testing those knives turned out to be invaluable to me as a maker. I learned there are some makers turning out great looking knives that don't hold an edge all that well or that their geometry prevents the knife from performing as well as it could. I also found out a few are making knives with so-so looks but perform better than anything I've seen.

As for your chart, I tend to like a knife with a little higher hardness. But then again, I know I'm not going to be batoning my outdoor knife through a piece of seasoned hickory or using it to build a gazebo! Neck knives and hunting knives I shoot for around 59-61 with 1095. Bushcraft with FFG, around 58-60 (homie don't do scandi's) and 60+ for Kitchen knives.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

As was pointed out there is no one hardness fits all for knives.

That said, most makers shoot for Rc 58-59 in carbon steel and Rc 59-61 in stainless. This can go up or down depending on use and steel selection.

 

[Britt_Askew]

Thanks for the help everybody. I have learned SO much from the people here.

 

[Overmountain]

For one thing, I can see one mistake you avoided already... you know what type of steel you have... The web is loaded with those trying to harden mystery steel and wondering why they don't get the results they want. Scrap steel is great for practicing, and after you really know what you are doing, good for tool making and limited knife use.
Steel is cheap. Some of those really nice stabilized knife scales/micarta/etc. are not. I am personally not a fan of anything other than a neck/deep concealment knife being wrapped in paracord, but it is a great way to test a heat treat at a certain grind without smoking all that time and effort when it won't hold an edge, etc. If it works right, feels right, etc then polish it out and scale it up!
Keep in mind as well there are ten pieces of bad advice on the web for every good bit. I kept my knifemaking/fixing/etc off the web for this reason, however lurked here for a bit. I found this site, and unfortunately pretty much this site alone, a source of sound advice...
One bit of advice when you finish your projects. I learned a while ago this is a VERY friendly community. If you hand a maker/enthusiast a knife and tell them you made it and ask what they think, you will get a very polite 'Looks great. Good job.' You have to say 'give me an honest opinion and tell me what you would have done differently if you made this knife.'
Cheers, good luck. This is one of the most addicting/rewarding hobbies I have ever had. Wouldn't trade it for the world...