Is the shatter test a reliable method of testing a piece of steel ?

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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If you don't know what I'm talking about it's the method of hitting a piece of steel you've " quenched " to see if it has gotten hard enough to break or shatter.

I felt like making a knife but all I had around is a worn out Mexican Nicholson file, I've made a few knives here and there before from things I was sure of but this time I'm not exactly sure.
I've heard many modern files are just case hardened mild steel, so I figured I'd better test this one.
I heated a piece of the tang till non magnetic and quenched it, it broke with one good hammer strike making me think it is some form of high carbon steel.
I just don't know if there are any variables that could allow this to happen if the steel is not actually suitable, it was definitely soft and bendable before.

Practice is practice regardless so I'll continue with it, but am not going to to go 100% taking it to the stones if I'm told it's probably not suitable.
 
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I tested the cut off tang two more times with the same result , so I decided to proceed since I was bored.
I would say its a suitable blade material, I don't expect it to hold an edge forever but it did take a shaving sharp edge.
The vintage Nicholson files last much longer than the current Mexican ones, but they don't seem too bad to me.
 
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Looks like a nice, handy little blade. Guess you answered your own question. This time.

From my research, Nicholson files are made from W-1 steel, and a fast quench is needed. Brine is recommended. Not much help, and a little late, but there ya go...
 
justjed said:
Looks like a nice, handy little blade. Guess you answered your own question. This time.

From my research, Nicholson files are made from W-1 steel, and a fast quench is needed. Brine is recommended. Not much help, and a little late, but there ya go...
Click to expand...

That's the originals though right ?
If they're using the same steel in the Mexican factory I don't see why they wouldn't treat the steel as the same, so I'm guessing it's a different slightly lesser steel.
 
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Not sure it's worth the money to buy new, there are thousands, if not millions, of older Nicholson's available at pawn shops and flea markets across the country. The info I found was about 4 years old, and may have changed in the meantime. You might call or email Nicholson. They likely won't tell you exactly what alloy is currently being used, but can probably tell you if it has changed in the last few years.
 
justjed said:
Not sure it's worth the money to buy new, there are thousands, if not millions, of older Nicholson's available at pawn shops and flea markets across the country. The info I found was about 4 years old, and may have changed in the meantime. You might call or email Nicholson. They likely won't tell you exactly what alloy is currently being used, but can probably tell you if it has changed in the last few years.
Click to expand...

Oh I'm not going to buy a new file to make a knife from knowing from experience they're not quite as good, but I've bought a few from the hardware store when I needed a file and when they wear out I'll test them and potentially make a knife from them if I see the same results.

Anza has to get their files from somewhere right ?
I'm sure they've got to be modern files if they can keep such steady production of knives.
Maybe they acquire worn out files from a factory or industry where they're used daily ?
 
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justjed said:
At least they're not making them from Paki damascus!
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Definitely.
By all accounts they're great knives, so I've wondered for a long while where they're getting their files.
There are a few companies making good files still, I believe Dick in Germany, and I think a company in Italy.
I'm not sure if they'd have quality blades if using files made in India.
 
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