Nickle Silver vs Sterling Silver

[AzPete]

Just a simple question: Why is nickle silver, German silver used in knife making rather than sterling silver or even .999 fine silver? Durability?

Thanks

Pete

 

[fitzo]

Nickel silver is an alloy containing copper, nickel and zinc. No silver at all.

It's much less expensive than silver alloys, and harder, thus more durable for knife furniture. You see silver sometimes in art knives.

Hope that helps.

 

[AzPete]

Thank You Sir!

 

[AzPete]

While I have you on the line.. What is a good source for Kick springs used in Italian stilettos?

 

[fitzo]

I honestly don't know, sorry. Those are "leaf" springs, aren't they? Kinda sorta (bent rod). Most knifemakers would make them themselves and temper to spring hardness (about 'blue'). Coil springs you can purchase from knifekits.com.

 

[gator68]

Just a simple question: Why is nickle silver, German silver used in knife making rather than sterling silver or even .999 fine silver? Durability?

Thanks

Pete

Price. Nickle silver is about 1/10th the price of sterling. What Fitzo said. Not only do you pay for the material, but you typically pay fabrication charges that bring the price of the silver >>$10 per ounce. Fine silver isn't used much because it is pretty soft. Sterling silver is an alloy with copper -- makes the silver harder and more durable.

 

[mete]

Sterling silver can be heat treated , nickel silver can only be hardened by cold working.

 

[John Andrews]

I use nickle silver for all my furniture and .999 silver for my inlays. Years ago I used .999 silver for many buttcaps and silver soldered .999 silver over brass for some furniture, such as guards.