Metal ID HELP!

[333_okh]

Okay, I used to work of an OLD timber company, The Pacific Lumber Company [139 yrs old before its demise]. There I found an old circular saw blade and had a millwright cut a couple of knife blades for me. That was 30 years ago.

So it is hard as nuts, but rusts slowly and more realistically stains not rusts. Any clue? I recently re profiled one playing with hand tools only and handled it in redwood from same place. Pins are from the same company's forestry shop.

 

[333_okh]

I forgot until looking that I made another for my father-in-law from it as well.

 

[Nic.]

No clue on the steel...but what wood are you using? It looks really nice, some sort of walnut? I love that first knife

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Nic - "..... and handled it in redwood from same place....."

333 - No real way to tell what the steel is exactly but some sort of medium carbon steel between 1070 and L6 is the standard guess.

 

[Nic.]

Nic - "..... and handled it in redwood from same place....."

333 - No real way to tell what the steel is exactly but some sort of medium carbon steel between 1070 and L6 is the standard guess.

Whoops, sorry, thanks.

 

[viral]

I've had several of those old circular saw blades tested. They are usually a 1070-1084. A lot of people say l6 but I've yet to run across one. I have one that I think may be l6 or some variation but I'll send it off for testing to know for sure.

 

[333_okh]

No clue on the steel...but what wood are you using? It looks really nice, some sort of walnut? I love that first knife

First is dense woods aged burl redwood from California, 2nd is California Laurel aka Oregon Myrtle, or bay laurel or pepperwood....depending on where you are at

 

[333_okh]

Thanks all...that stuff is not as hard as some knives, but it really hones into a razor.

 

[333_okh]

Nic - "..... and handled it in redwood from same place....."

333 - No real way to tell what the steel is exactly but some sort of medium carbon steel between 1070 and L6 is the standard guess.

I was told L6 originally, but was also told it should rust really fast and it doesnt.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The stories that L-6 or O-1 will "rust while you look at it" are pretty much blacksmith rumor. All plain steel will rust at about the same rate. Fine grit sanding of the finish, keeping the blade clean, low humidity, and keeping it oiled are what holds back the rust. You can't do anything much about the humidity, but the rest are in your control.