Old chisels...what steel?

[Guy Thomas]

Every time I go to the flea market or junk shops I end up buying old chisels. Some can be restored and re-used but I fully intend to forge some of these into knife blades someday. Any help as to what steel chisels (old and new) are likely to be would help out!-Guy T.

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Results! Why, man,
I have gotten a lot of results.
I know several thousand
things that won't work.

Thomas A. Edison

 

[Rex]

I worked in a forge shop for ten years and made 10's of 1000's of chisels.
We made them for Craftsman,Matco,SK,Etc.Etc.
They were all made from the same stuff,usually all in the same day. All were given the same heattreat and anneal. All were tested to the same requirements. All had to meet the same specs. The ONLY difference was the name stamped on the tool.
We used 4140 and sometimes 4135. Heattreated Rc50-55 cutting edge and Rc 40-45 striking edge.
We made tools for over 100 different brand names and shipped to over 60 countries.

 

[Guy Thomas]

Great, thanks for the info Rex, sounds like a pretty straight-foward steel to work with in a forging situation. I would guess that you could treat it pretty much like 5160 as far as forging and heat treat goes? -Guy T.