How does one distinguish O1 steel?

Joe Duder

Joe Duder

Joined
Jan 22, 2013
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To avoid confrontation/misunderstanding I'm going to withhold the makers names.

I recently purchased several O1 steel fixed blades from different makers. They all hold an edge well, and are fairly easy to sharpen and touch up. They all seem very tarnishable except for one. The majority of them seem to want to patina just being kept in their leather sheath, except for the same one. In general, they all perform the same, touch up the same, and look the same, with the exception of the one that is not as eager to patina.

Question time.

What is the best way to test one's O1 blade to distinguish whether or not it is in fact O1 steel?
 
Sometimes it's possible by spark testing while grinding the metal (examining the number/lifetime/color of the sparks), but it's not 100% accurate and you would have to grind on your blades. The oxidation-resistant one might just be oiled/finished a little better. On that note, be sure to oil or wax your carbon steel blades to prevent oxidation, unless you like the look. Johnson's paste wax does wonders.
 
bobasaurus said:
Sometimes it's possible by spark testing while grinding the metal (examining the number/lifetime/color of the sparks), but it's not 100% accurate and you would have to grind on your blades. The oxidation-resistant one might just be oiled/finished a little better. On that note, be sure to oil or wax your carbon steel blades to prevent oxidation, unless you like the look. Johnson's paste wax does wonders.
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The blade in question is by far the least expensive of the lot. That would be pretty peculiar that the less expensive knife would have the best finish. But nothing (in the blade world) surprises me anymore.

I did use the knife to make salsa, and there was no oxidation. I cut tomatoes, onions, lemons etc... acidic veggies and still nothing, curious
 
Joe Duder said:
I did use the knife to make salsa, and there was no oxidation. I cut tomatoes, onions, lemons etc... acidic veggies and still nothing, curious
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That really doesn't sound like O1. Without pics or details of the manufacturer, there's only a limited amount of information others here can give you. O1 grinds in a particular way, but I doubt you want to go grinding your knife.
 
The only way to be absolutely certain is by having a chemical analysis done on the steel to determine the composition. O-1 is not very corrosion resistant, so it sounds like that one blade is probably something else.
 
I personally would not be offended if someone asked me why one knife of the same steel would not tarnish as the others. I made some knives that I honestly can't remember what the steel is. I'm going to hide my own Easter Eggs this year.
 
William Schrade said:
I personally would not be offended if someone asked me why one knife of the same steel would not tarnish as the others. I made some knives that I honestly can't remember what the steel is. I'm going to hide my own Easter Eggs this year.
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That made me bust out laughing. :D might as well make the most of it.
 
Not all O1 is exactly the same. To be considered O1 it has to fit within a range of percentages of alloying elements. Having said that, most of it seems to be pretty close. FWIW Starrett O1 is the least likely to tarnish of the couple different "brands" I've used.

It's an interesting question but short of sending the blades off for chemical analysis you can't really be sure. Frankly if they all perform well I wouldn't worry about it too much.
 
I'm not terribly worried about it. The knife does perform well and does do what I want it to do. It's just when I pay for an advertised product I want what was advertised. If I ordered a ribeye, I want a ribeye. Fillet Mignon is actually a better cut of meat, but if I didn't order it, I don't want it. It's the whole principle of ordering a specific thing and getting another that I don't like. Whether it's better or worse, it's not what I payed for.
 
Post pictures. That could possibly help. O1 sometimes has a unique look to it (brighter and more visible grain structure) I find any way. I could just be talking out of my as* but I can spot a billet of o1 out of a pile of d2 or 1084 pretty easily
 
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