Need advice for what stainless to switch to

JTknives

JTknives

Joined
Jun 11, 2006
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I have still been flirting with the idea of doing a batch run of my 2nd Amendment knives. but after some recent problems i have decided that these knives need to be made from stainless so thy don't rust under the cord wrap. I like to bead blast them and that just adds fuel to the rust fire. so as i have never having really worked with stainless befor need your help. its not a big knife at all and the blade will be made from around .125 or so thick stock. Its not a "cut a car in half" knife but it still needs to be tough but also hold and edge as it is also used in camping and other survival encounters. i have looked at a few steels and right when i think i have narrowed it down i see another steel and it all goes out the window. I would like the steel to be is sheet stock so i can have it laser cut. here are the steels i have looked at so far.

12C27
13C26
19C27
154CM
440C
ATS-34
CPM S30V

so you can see my problem, there are a lot to pick from. one thing is that I'm not looking to break the bank with the cost of steel. but other then that i really have no clue. so any help would be a great help.

these are the knives i will be making.
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13C26, it's one of the more stainless of the strainless steels and cheap.

It's also very fine-grained and tough, takes a wicked sharp edge. Can get to 63 rc, yet stay easy to sharpen. Edge retention is pretty similar to 154CM at the same hardness by most accounts. This steel actually has more in common with 52100 than other stainless steels.
 
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I was recently asked what stainless I used when someone wanted to order a stainless knife. My answer was/is, 'they need to find another maker' :D

Seriously, if I were to use stainless, it would be one of the Sandvik steels, 12C27 or maybe 13C26. This decision based on long conversations with Devin Thomas and a folder by PJ Tomes that I carried for awhile.
 
The best advice I can give you is for you to define what material properties you want and then research what the available materials have been measured as performing to those desired properties. This doesnt just have to be mechanical properties you could include things like cost and what forms the various mills will make it available to you in. The final criteria would then be looking at what process steps your ideal material requires to see if that fits within the existing tools and capabilities you have.
 
Looks like you are using a satin finish. There may be no better steel for this than CPM S30V. Tough! Great Edge Holding! Excellent corrosion resistence! Reasonable Price for performance. Next Choice would be CPM154 - and depending on what happens tomorrow, maybe RWL34 as a backup.

To be honest, I'm not sure what commends the Sandvic steels beyond media hype - and the heat treat is pretty tricky. A few minutes over and all the fine grain advantages are lost. Alloy content is - OK but doesn't seem remarkable.

The other option is 154CM with ATS34 as your backup. These may well be your best value (ie cost vs performance).

Nice knife by the way - and a very attractive wrap! You've come a long way JT! :thumbup:
 
KnifeMaker.ca said:
Looks like you are using a satin finish. There may be no better steel for this than CPM S30V. Tough! Great Edge Holding! Excellent corrosion resistence! Reasonable Price for performance. Next Choice would be CPM154 - and depending on what happens tomorrow, maybe RWL34 as a backup.

To be honest, I'm not sure what commends the Sandvic steels beyond media hype - and the heat treat is pretty tricky. A few minutes over and all the fine grain advantages are lost. Alloy content is - OK but doesn't seem remarkable.

The other option is 154CM with ATS34 as your backup. These may well be your best value (ie cost vs performance).

Nice knife by the way - and a very attractive wrap! You've come a long way JT! :thumbup:
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yes it might be the best but its quite expensive when i'm looking at doing a batch of 100 knives.
 
JTknives said:
yes it might be the best but its quite expensive when i'm looking at doing a batch of 100 knives.
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That's true - but if you add $4 for blade steel - and maybe $5 for an average extra belt per blade you have added $900.00. (Likely less)

Now how much more is an S30V knife worth as compared to an ATS34? Maybe $20 - $40? The numbers can be argued either way, but I think it's pretty clear the extra cost would be covered at least double by increased value (sale price).

Sounds like a fun project whichever way you go. Let us know if it's still fun when you finish the 100th. ;)

Rob!
 
That knife is a beaut JT. Mike Stewart, of Bark River, was recently talking about some of the stainless and comparing to carbon steel on the Bark River forums on knifeforums.com He liked the 13c27; also was a little less fired up by S30V.
 
this is one type knife that i think s30v was made for the 3-4 inch edc do all blade do it at 60 harndness ( a hair harder them most but not super hard )
if not that 154cm at 60-61 hardness should be ok i like cpm154 at 62-63 but that is in the kitchen
BTW all those steels are US made and for me that means something
 
I don't have any advice on the stainless, but I was wondering if you market to ARFCOM with the CAV-AID knives. Those guys would go goo-goo over it.
 
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