Mystery stainless...treat as what?

[Guy Thomas]

I have a piece of 1/4" stainless that I acquired over 20 years ago. I was about 17 at the time and started profiling a spear point bowie out of it but never got any further with it.
I unearthed it when I was cleaning the garage the other day. All I know about it is that it is a knife quality stainless steel. I figure the chances are that it is most likely 440C, but would you go horribly wrong if it turned out to be something else and you heat treated it as 440C? What else was commonly available at that time? -Guy Thomas

 

[Paul Bos]

Guy: There was many different ST\STL!S 20 years ago that were hardenable. most likley it was of the 400 searies, first check with a magnet to make sure it is not a 300 searies, If it is 300 series st. stl. it will not be magnetic. Go ahead and heat treat it for 440, then do a Rockwell test on it, If it comes out around R\C- 58-60 from the quench, you probley 440-A,B, or C. If it comes out 55 TO 56 ,could be 420, If it comes out in the mid to high 40!s its probley 410-416. Hope this helps you Paul.