I need advice on stainless.

R

R.H.Clark

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Aug 23, 2007
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I've never done any stock removal,only forged my blades from 1095 and 5160.I have a friend who wants me to make a hunter for him in stainless.It will be a full tang with slab handles about 4" blade,probably around 9"overall.

What would be a good inexpensive stainless to use and where is the best place to get it heat treated.Should some of you recommend a good place to heat treat it for me would it be a good idea to just use a stainless that the company has the most experience with.

I intend to grind it thin and something that he can easily sharpen will be prefered to a steel that will hold an edge longer but be difficult to sharpen without diamonds.

Also what size in width and thickness would be good for stock removal of this type?

What can I expect to spend having it heat treated?
 
1/8"-5/32" 440c will do real well if H/Ted correctly,Also inexpensive but make sure you get it cryo'ed it's one of the steel that really benifits from it.It's easy to sharpn and will hold a good edge.
Stan
 
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Texas Knifemakers Supply does single blade heat treats. I've used them a few times when I couldn't wait to get a full batch to send to Paul Bos. Good job and done quick. It's been a few years, so I don't remember how much.
 
Paul Bos H.T . in Idaho . $18.00 per blade plus ship . It is cyro'ed and double tempered .
 
You asked for an "inexpensive" stainless and all the recommendations for 440C are just that. Consider spending an extra $2 or so on the 9" of steel and get 154CM or equivalent for greatly improved performance. Better edge retention, better corrosion resistance, equal toughness, and it's really not any harder to sharpen unless you play way out on the edge of possible hardness.

Rob!
 
CPM 154, the difference in blocky carbide size will allow for very fine edges, if you don't want to use diamonds to sharpen, tell your heat treater to do 58RC

I just got some from Aldo

aldo@njsteelbaron.com

he doesn't have it up on his web page yet so you have to email him or call

Office: (862) 203-8160

tell him Page sent you (I get all of my steel from Aldo now that he's carrying all of the good stuff)

-Page
 
For hunting (skinning) knives I like to use ATS-34 if I want it to be really pretty and D2 if I want a real working edge. D2 isn't technically stainless, but is nearly so. It takes a real fine edge and holds it well and can be sharpened with a regular stone. Texas Knifemakers Supply does a pretty good heat treat and cryo for about $7.50 per blade.
 
I forgot to mention thickness. I, too, grind thin and flat and use 1/8" bar stock.
 

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CPM 154, heat treated to 60. Ground thin enough, it won't be a problem to sharpen, and is surprisingly tough for a stainless. I've used some of my CPM 154 blades for things beyond normal knife useage(light prying, etc...) and have been pleasantly surprised to see no chipping or edge deformation(thin hollow ground Krein Dogfish, FYI)
 
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