"Industrial" Bandsaw Blades for Knife Making?

[52 Ford]

I've got a bunch of 48 foot by 10 inch x 3/8 inch thick band saw blades. What type of steel do y'all think they are? I imagine they'd make good knives, considering they were meant for a giant band saw.

 

[Dopic1]

From what little I know, I believe most are composed of 15N20 or 0.75% carbon and a small amount of nickel. I've also heard of them being made of L-6 but don't know that to be true. I would image blades that large may have be of some other alloys though.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I've got a bunch of 48 foot by 10 inch x 3/8 inch thick band saw blades. What type of steel do y'all think they are? I imagine they'd make good knives, considering they were meant for a giant band saw.

Most likely 15N20, but it's not 3/8" thick.

 

[Darrin Sanders]

Most likely 15N20, but it's not 3/8" thick.

Uh huh, most likely in the 3/32" range.

 

[mete]

Mixing 15N20 with 1084 makes a great damascus. !!

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

I'd send a piece off for analysis, you may have a lot of good blade steel!

 

[Don Hanson III]

I'd send a piece off for analysis, you may have a lot of good blade steel!

15N20 is a 99-100% probability. I've cut up many of those giant bandsaw blades in the last 35 years and it always acts like 15N20.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

I'd send a piece off for analysis, you may have a lot of good blade steel!

I was thinking the same. For around $150 you can have it scanned. That much steel I'd want to know for certain. Could have hit the jackpot, but you'd want to know for sure.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I haven't had any steel tested in a while, but as far as I know, the normal cost is around $50 per sample.