Is there a standard clloy for "Solingen steel?" If so, what is % Carbon?

C

catboat

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May 22, 2005
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What is the alloy in "Solingen Steel?" I know it represents a city or area in Germany. I'm curious if there is a certain % of carbon in the "high carbon blades" stamped "Solingen Steel?" "High carbon" steel is supposed to be 0.5% or higher carbon.

Does anyone know for certain?

I was thinking of buying a "Solingen Steel" bladed knife (see link). I'm waiting for a response from the specific website.

http://www.heimerdingercutlery.com/catalog/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=916
 
If you want something modern from Solingen, I can only recommend the later knives from Böker. The other companies still offer nice traditional designs (nickers, bowies) for a reasonable price - but they didn't adapt when the industry changed.
It depends on what you're looking for. Companies like Linder, Hubertus, Puma only survived because german hunters like their knives and keep on buying them.
Eickhorn might come up with some new stuff soon. Dietmar Pohl, the designer of most Böker knives (Turbine for example), is now working for them.


Companies in Solingen use cheap 440A or even 420 pretty often, but you can also find better steels like ATS34 and 440C, it just depends on the price you want to pay. Normally, you can't go wrong with damascus either. The new damascus folders from Böker (LEO, Eurofighter, 2007 DAMASCUS) are gorgeous, but pricey.
 
The only blades I have stamped Solingen are Kitchen Knives and two Colt Folders which are 440A stainless. Take that for what its worth.
 
What about the miscellaneous carbon steels used in many current Solingen-made pocket knives? I have a couple Otter-Messer knives with carbon blades... Any guesses more educated than mine?
 
puukkoman said:
What about the miscellaneous carbon steels used in many current Solingen-made pocket knives? I have a couple Otter-Messer knives with carbon blades... Any guesses more educated than mine?
Click to expand...


carbon= they stain?

Otter usually uses .75% carbon with little of chromium added steel. Hardness should be around 56 to 57 HRC. Fine blade steel, nothing bad about it.
 
I asked in the Boker Mfg section about my Speed Lock 3000. It says "Solingen Germany Stainless" on the blade. The moderator said that "made of 4034 stainless. It is a variant of 420."

This thread
 
Blop said:
carbon= they stain?

Otter usually uses .75% carbon with little of chromium added steel. Hardness should be around 56 to 57 HRC. Fine blade steel, nothing bad about it.
Click to expand...

Wolfgang said:
A pretty common carbon steel for Solingen blades was/(is) C75 or 1075 as I remember correctly.
Click to expand...

Makes sense. They smell & taste like carbon steel, and they sharpen quickly and hold it decently long.
Thanks.
 
Here's some info on "Solingen steel" used by Dovo for scissors:

Material C45 0.45% C, 0.30% Si, 0.55% Mn, 0.35% P and S
Hardening: 830° - 860°C,
chilled in oil Tempering: 180° - 250°C
Hardness after tempering: 52 HRC

Material 4034 R 0.48% C, 0.37% Si, 0.27% Mn, 13.73% Cr
Hardening: 1060°C,
chilled in air (partly in oil) Tempering: 160°C
Hardening after tempering: 52 HRC



http://www.dovo.com/e/seiten/a_material.html
 
Germany not only exported swords all over the world, including Africa, they also exported executioners. Henry VIII used a German headsman (beheadsman?) for at least one of his soon-to-be-ex-wives' executions.
 
And, i like to remember, Guillotine was of german origin.:D

"Der Tod ist ein Meister aus Deutschland"

Well back to topic.

Someone did a hardness test on the Boker 4034 blade and reached 58 HRC. I don´t know, and i wouldn´t have expected that hardness, if this is the usual point. But it would be interesting, if ppl. could test their blades too.

At least, 4034 is comparable to a 420, but 4034 was designed as a true blade steel and it features a good mixture characteristics, so at a hardness above 56 it should perform well on all around tasks.

I took a look in my anual knife catalog and there it is said, that Otter uses a 1.2003 grade or C75Cr1 (.75% C, .5% Cr). Some ppl. call it in german "Gussstahl" related to the Sheffield steel of forlast century.

Can be set between 1085 and O1. More chromium than 1085 but less mangan and no vandium than O1.
 
In general: Some are some not some parts are, some not.:D

Well, there had been a little discussion around a german manufacturer who offers nice and cheap hunting knives "Nickers", made from 4034 or 440 steel. :confused: So i asked myself, it is 4034, if so it is made in germany or imported or is it something steel like 440A?

I guess Boker is fit to be asked and to receive a good answer. If not try again and visit the Boker forum at the german speaking www.messerforum.net.

Windmuehlen Robert Herder kitchen knives are made here AFAIK and they colaborate with some japanese manufacturers in special products.
 
Blop said:
...
Well back to topic.

Someone did a hardness test on the Boker 4034 blade and reached 58 HRC. I don´t know, and i wouldn´t have expected that hardness, if this is the usual point....

At least, 4034 is comparable to a 420, but 4034 was designed as a true blade steel and it features a good mixture characteristics, so at a hardness above 56 it should perform well on all around tasks.

....
Click to expand...

I don't know, but it did take my diamond stones, followed by the normal stones (for polish) to get it as sharp as I wanted. I did reprofile the edge a bit tho.
 
You mean, it was a pain to sharpen?

Advocatus diabolis: A bad steel can include large carbides, that are a bear to sharpen, even though the whole matrix is pretty soft. Vice versa, a good steel, with small, well distributed carbides is much easier to sharpen.

Did it take a good edge?
 
Yeah, it was a pain to sharpen. Took 3 nites working on it for a couple hours each while watching TV. But when I was done it was arm shaving sharp. Still is too although I haven't used it too much.
 
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