How good is 1095?

[Crayola]

I am just learning how to make knives now and so I bought a piece of 1095, partly because it was cheap!(hey, I'm a student!) I'm going to be making a few blades here over x-mas, and so I am curious as to how well it performs. Anything would be appreciated.

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"Come What May..."

 

[Kodiak PA]

Hi Crayola,
I have several knives in 1095 and I think it is as good as the person making it. What I mean is, you'll hear it's not stainless and that there are nicer steel grades out there but it is a high carbon knife and if heat treated appropriately it can be an a good steel to start making knives with.

You should email Matt Lamey ( rmlamey@aol.com and ask him how he makes knives with 1095. I have 2 of his knives and they're made with so much TLC that they out perform some of the sexier knives. For instance, I used Matt's camp knife and compared it with my Busse Basic 7 with its modified INFI steel and Matt's little old 1095 blade out cut and out chopped it! I have a hand rubbed knife from him in 1095 too and it's beautiful.

You'll also hear that the steel will rust. Hogwash! Not if you take care of it. I live in Kodiak Alaska and we get over 100 inches of rain a year and I have not one spec of rust on my knives since I take care of them with a rust inhibito like Tuf-Cloth. All knives can rust if you don't take care of them but if I can keep rust off of 1095 here in the rainy Alaskan wilderness...anyone can.

Bottom line: 1095 ain't that bad.

Regards,

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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska

 

[fudo]

Check out Newt Livesay. His knives are made of 1095. He has a forum @ EZ-Board and is happy to answer questions. He is a gentleman and easy to talk to. Good Luck

 

[Jiantbrane2]

If I'm not mistaken (which is usually the case), 1095 has ZERO chromium in it. It holds an edge great, though. As long as it's cared for properly, a great steel.

 

[RMLamey]

I really like 1095. In my limited experience it is a little less forgiving than 5160 and 0-1 in the heat treat department, however, its still fairly straight forward to heat treat (email me and i will get into detail).

Im a new maker and have good success with it. I have done it all through trial and error, and alot of testing both in my shop and in the woods.

Greg- Im sure glad you like your knives, and the green micarta handled hunter is waiting for your buddy!


Thanks, Matt.

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"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"
Thomas Jefferson