O1 tool steel for bushcraft?

[rockhead45]

I was wondering why no one is using O1 in commercially available knives and would this steel do good in a bushcraft setting? I have made some blades before (and when i get some time will post pictures) and was wanting to make a knife in O1 for general outdoors use. I like to camp and hike so this would be used anywhere from fire making to food prep. I was thinking of making a two knife set one being 10"-12" blade and the other a 3"-4" blade. How shock resistant is O1? how well will it take the cold? I will be coating the blade for rust prevention just don't know what with yet. How well does the steel hold an edge? I understand this is really all dependent upon the heat treat and i am thinking of doing a differently head treated to have a hard edge and soft spine. Any thoughts or comments?

 

[TheOTBalisong]

01 Is as good a steel as any for bushcraft.
Also steels like INFI, 3V, Elmax, etc, outperform it, It's still a decent steel.
I would run it at 58 or 59 RC.
I always send out any 01 for Heat treat, so I can't speak on it's heat treat.

 

[kamagong]

The Spyderco BushcraftUK comes with an O1 blade.

 

[Adam Buttry]

I suspect 01 isn't used often commercially because it is prone to rusting. It is, however, used by many custom makers. It meets many of the criteria (IMO) for a steel used in a bushcrafting knife. That being, it is easily sharpened, holds a working edge for a good while, and is tough enough to handle stresses placed on the steel. I prefer A2 over 01, but 01 is certainly a good choice. You mentioned coating the blade. Blade coatings are unnecessary IMO and actually inhibit one of the other criteria for a good bushcraft knife......the ability to use it in conjunction with a firesteel to start fires. These are just my thoughts and should be taken with a grain of salt. In the end, it is your project and you should do what you see fit.

MtnDude

 

[rockhead45]

this is excatly what i am looking for out of this thread just some personal thoughts about the steel and possabilty other options to look into. thank you Mtn.Dude

 

[PatrickKnight]

Spyderco uses it on the Bushcraft model, also Blind Horse Knives use it on there Bushcraft model. I loved my BHK flat grind Bushcrafter. 01 holds and awesome edge and is super tough, however it does rust very easy much easier than my other carbon knives made out of 52100 and 1095 so make sure you keep it oiled.

 

[Grease]

I love O1. Great sharpenability and edge holding, with just enough toughness. I say go for it.


I would also suggest blueing O1, rather than coating it. As longas you properly care for it, a blued O1 blade will be rust proof and should still work on a firesteel.

 

[rockhead45]

I always send out any 01 for Heat treat, so I can't speak on it's heat treat.

where do you send your steel to for heat treating? I"m thinking of making a small skinning knife in something like m390 or elmax it seams like their the new hot blade steels.

 

[TheOTBalisong]

where do you send your steel to for heat treating? I"m thinking of making a small skinning knife in something like m390 or elmax it seams like their the new hot blade steels.

I send any air hardening steels to Darrin Sanders and Oil/Water Hardening to Peter's heat treat.

Darrin Sanders is a great guy, very helpful and informative, He's also a member here on the forums.

 

[Brian.Evans]

+1 for Darrin. Great guy and awesome HT.

 

[tholiver]

Ray Mears custom Bushcraft knife is made of 01.
Spyderco Bushcraft knife is 01, so are the Enzo Elver, Trapper, Camper and their folders as well.
01 is one of my favorite steels, personally i'd take 01 over D2 any day of the week.

 

[Paradextactical]

I have the BHK bush baby and bushcrafter in 01 and the BHK cavallo in A2. I really wish they would make the bushcrafters in a2. The stain resistance and edge holding capabilities are much, much better. I had to patina the 01's, they were rusting on me during use. But once properly patinaed that problem has all but vanished.

 

[Charlie Mike]

The first bushcraft I did was O1. The customer was really happy.

 

[Jack Black]

http://www.alanwoodknives.com/the-woodlore-knife-story.html

 

[james terrio]

O1 is my go-to carbon steel for traditional hunting and bushcraft knives. :thumbup:

It's plenty tough enough for the uses you describe, can take a really nice crisp edge, and is easy to maintain. I don't feel it needs any coating. Bluing, forcing a patina, or just letting it develop a patina with use will be fine. Just keep it reasonably clean.

The finer you finish any blade to begin with, the better it will resist corrosion. 400-grit hand-satin seems to be about standard for most makers, but 1,500 grit or higher is a bit easier to keep clean and O1 really looks great with a higher polish.

A little rust won't ruin it... if it gets some orange blooming, scrub it down with steel-wool or whatever grit sandpaper you finished it with. For long-term storage or in wet/salty environs, wipe it down with a couple drops of plain mineral oil (it's food-safe and doesn't stink or turn rancid). With moderate care, O1 knives will outlast us all.

I agree that 58-59Rc is a good hardness for it... it has decent edge-retention that way and is still pretty easy to hone and sharpen, and tough.
Check with Darrin Sanders, he does indeed HT oil-quenching steels. I haven't used his services but he enjoys a very good reputation among other makers around here.

I suppose you could draw the spine back softer, but I don't think it's really necessary - certainly not on a 3-4" blade. Leave the spine hard and grind it to a crisp 90-degree angle for scraping sparks off a ferro-rod or using a flint.

 

[Bigfatts]

Blind Horse Knives. Bushcrafter:

I have 2 bushcraft knives in O1. The Bushcrafter above and a Tanto by JW Knives. Both are great. The steel takes an edge easily and holds it well enough for good use. I patina'd the Tanto but left the BHK naked. They are 2 of my favorite knives.

 

[Groove]

GEC is making their Farm & Field Tool (Sodbuster type folder) in 01 and it's one of my favorite work/beater knives. So far I'm really liking the steel.

 

[dePaul]

The laminated moras are made of Uddeholm UHB 2140/Arne (eq. to AISI O1).

~Paul~

 

[Fanglekai]

Randall knives have it as an option as well.

 

[paul'ie]

Say Heah Guys and Gals, I Have A Few Knives IN O1, I have a Randal Made Model #1 and Model #14, both beautiful and very functioning knives, although not for Bush Crat, But in a emergency both knives could suffice. I also have a Blind Horse Bushcrafter in O1, I have the Scandi Grind on it and I had the handle flattened and polished and it's a very nice looking Kephart and a LiL Tank that works wood good. I do like the way I can put an edge on it and then just strop it to bring it back. I really like some of the styles BY B H K but I never liked the Broomstick Handles, not because they didn't fit good, On the contrary it's a very good and comfortable handle, I just don't like the look. When I recieved a E-mail from Battle Horse and on the Attitude the handle had a Palm Swell Handle, I really liked the knife. But I had a few minor things changed on it. First of all, I wanted to get a knife with a White Handle and Blue Liners, to match my White Handle Himalayan Imports M-43 Khukuri which also has a White bone handle. I also had a slight curve done to my Attitude and had the Drop Point Lowered with a High Scandi Grind, and in O1. I like that steel for Bush Craft or Wood Craft which is the term in the American Way. Anyhow, I got the knife and it's Simply TiT's, Beautiful, Battle Horse Knives did a Beautiful Job making it, Everything was Spot-on and just the way I wanted, I can't think of anything I want to change because the work came out Awesome. As far as why I got the O1 was for the simplicity of keeping it sharp. When we go out into the bush, I don't use the knife every second of the day. I use it as needed, At the end of the day, I just strop it back to sharp and that's it. That's very important. I know the super steel's hold a better edge, but are harder to sgaroen, I don't mind being able to just strop my O1 to sharp which really isn't a big deal for ne. Anyhow, the O1 really isn't that bad of a steel and that's why I got it in my Battle Horse Attitude. I also liked my Blind Horse Bushcrafter and how it preforms, same thing, I just strop it to sharp.

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