Looking for steel

[jo_smith78]

I am not sure where to post this so I figured the general would be best.

I am trying to find CPM 3V or CPM M4 in 3/8"x3"x16"-18" bar. I have gone to every supplier I can find and no one has any. I am building a knife for the BladeSport world championship in June.

Anyone have any ideas of where I can find this steel?

 

[Alfazulu]

Alpha Knife Supply has CPM M4 in .300 x 3" x 20.9" in stock. I know it's not quite 3/8", but close.

 

[VanDammet]

Wow, are those BladeSport knives that thick? Unless it's a requirement, 3/8" seems awfully thick for a knife that also has to slice well...but even for chopping it seems overly thick, esp. in those ultra-tough steels. Then again, I just don't know enough about this topic - good hunting!

 

[jo_smith78]

Thank you very much. Yeah I thought that a 1/4" thick blade would be competetive. I could not be more wrong. There was a time when some guys tried 1/2" thick stock. However the edge geometry got way off. 3/8" to .280" is the balance between weight and angle. there is a lot of trial and error with these blades. They are so much fun to use and make.