High Quality Source of 1095 Steel

A

Anarkistic

Joined
Jun 17, 2013
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Hi folks, I'm looking to order some high quality 1095 steel bars / blanks for a custom knife project. Ideally with a thickness of 1/4 inch (or 6mm) and length of at least 35cm (or 14 inches)

Thanks
 
Thanks for replies.

I like 1095 because it's similar to the carbon steel used in old weapons 1600-1900. From my research most antique blades have a carbon content of around 1%. Further more, such steel has a spiritual significance in my religion (sikh)

I'm also a minimalist / purist and like the idea of carbon as the single main alloying element to iron.

Mr DevinT, im not making the knives myself I'm getting a professional to do it for me. I value everyone opinion so please do tell me more .... what steel would be deeper hardening ?

Think 6mm is a bit thick, anywhere I could get 5mm stock from?
 
Why isn't the maker sourcing the stock? Deeper hardening steels would necessarily drift from your desire for a low alloy high carbon steel, as the additions of alloying elements is what makes them behave as deeper hardening steels.

Whenever someone comes here asking about 1095, it's common for us to ask why, because people who are not knifemakers seem to have some preconceived notions about 1095 that are incorrect. If you're choosing it for other reasons, that doesn't really apply.

New Jersey Steel Baron has what you want. However, I would imagine you'd be looking for wootz, to suit your cultural desire.
 
Anarkistic said:
Thanks for replies.

I like 1095 because it's similar to the carbon steel used in old weapons 1600-1900. From my research most antique blades have a carbon content of around 1%. Further more, such steel has a spiritual significance in my religion (sikh)

I'm also a minimalist / purist and like the idea of carbon as the single main alloying element to iron.

Mr DevinT, im not making the knives myself I'm getting a professional to do it for me. I value everyone opinion so please do tell me more .... what steel would be deeper hardening ?

Think 6mm is a bit thick, anywhere I could get 5mm stock from?
Click to expand...

kidda phaji :-)

you might ask Kam Singh @lotus_knives, he is a maker in the UK

Harbeer
 
Teekh takh ji

Thanks will give Kam a shout.

Not so easy finding 1095 stock in UK / Europe. Many makers can't be bothered to source it.
 
But there are other choices that meet your reasoning for wanting 1095 that are easily sourced in EU.
 
kuraki said:
But there are other choices that meet your reasoning for wanting 1095 that are easily sourced in EU.
Click to expand...

If there's carbon steel with carbon the main alloying element at (0.9% - 1%) available in bars 5mm - 6mm sure, but haven't found any in Europe yet.

How do I get New Jersey steel to cut the 48" bar of 1095 in half? Are they any good at replying to emails?Though only sent it yesterday
 
W1 is readily available in Europe from what little I know on the subject. The nomenclature is different, but 1095 is basically in the W1 spec. W2 has a bit of vanadium added. W1, W2, 1095, and Hitachi White are all quite similar, but 1095 is the least consistent in quality. Aldo has the only readily available source of W2 that I'm aware of. SC125 is available through Achim Wirtz, and is a low alloy, 1.25% carbon steel. Pretty much a copy of Hitachi White.

As another variable, 1095 will have the lowest value of the steels I mentioned assuming equivalent blades in all other ways. Hitachi white will have the highest value. You would likely need a few sticks of white forge welded together for your project though. I get my H. White through Dictum.
 
Anarkistic said:
Not so easy finding 1095 stock in UK / Europe. Many makers can't be bothered to source it.
Click to expand...

You didn't say that in your first post

You're not speaking the right language.
1095 is written in SAE-AISI Designation
American Designations

You're better off searching looking for the metric designations numbers where you are
W1
The English like to call it "silver steel"
CS95, CS100 and the other designations
German DIN standards
EU standards an utterly incomprehensible number
 
You might also try to search for UHB20C which is Bohler-Uddeholms version of 1095.

I know jatagan.eu and brisa.fi stocks it. But I've never seen it in 1/4 inch.
 
There are many folks more expert than I on antique Indian sub-continent blade of that time period, but I was under the assumption that most were between .70% and .85% carbon. This would be the same as modern 1070, 1075, 1080, and 1084. The steel was a simple tartara type with very alloy alloy content. This made it shallow hardening. Some of the bloom was cast iron and other parts were very low carbon. The mid range stuff was homogenized into a eutectoid content ( more or less). Obviously, some swords and knives were higher content ... and some were lower.

Most had a variable mixture of carbon content throughout the blade. This is sometimes called a "steely-iron mix". This made for hard and soft spots throughout the blade and edge.
Better blades were folded many more times in the homogenizing process, and more consistent in carbon content throughout the blade. These blades had a more even carbon content, but it was also lower due to carbon loss in the many high heats and forgoing.
 
:rolleyes:But if thy had 3v I bet thy would have used it
 
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