Old blanks

Kevin McGovern

Kevin McGovern

Joined
Jul 31, 2015
Messages
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A buddy gave these to me. I may just keep them around for a kit to give away. They are 4" stainless of some sort, and are marked "Indian Ridge traders, Sheffield, England" What little I found seems to indicate they where sold by a company in the seventies that subsequently sold the stock to Jantz. Any idea on the steel, and if they are any good?

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My guess would be 420 or equivalent based on the vintage but it's purely a guess though.
 
Randall did or still uses it. Buck too. It's not the best option today but makes a good serviceable knife.
 
They are high carbon steel similar to 1080 or 1095. They aren't stainless.
 
These were stored for a long time with other knives that are carbon steel. The carbon steel knives rusted. I am sure these blanks are stainless.
 
I don't remember any stainless Sheffield made blades.
Regardless, a touch of cold bluing will tell for certain if they are stainless.
 
Roamad said:
Slightly off topic, but FYI, Jantz still sells a line of Indian Ridge Trader kitchen knife blanks that are made in US by Russell Green River.

http://www.knifemaking.com/category-s/48.htm
Click to expand...

yeah, That is mostly what i turned up in researching. I think they got the name along with remaining stock of the original importer. I found one reference to these types of blanks being of 420 stainless and imported in the 1970s. I was hoping for more feedback.
 
Cold blue just pools up and doesn't change the color of stainless.
 
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