Ontario Bagwell Steel

Greg Covington

Greg Covington

Joined
Oct 28, 1999
Messages
1,563
I picked up a Gambler a couple weeks ago with the intention of rebuilding it to make it look more like a real Bagwell. I went to a thicker guard and silver soldered it in place and then used a nice piece of burled walnut for the grip. I wanted to make it look like one of BB's eagle headed bowie knives. I also removed the heavy Ontario stamping.

The interesting part came when I was polishing the "proprietary" QS-13 steel. I wanted to come up to a mirror polish...more like an original. After removing all the grind marks and going to the buffer....I found that I couldnt get a nice finish. The steel has a surface orange peel effect. I have not seen this since I tried to polish D2.

I remember Bagwell saying that if he would "have to have" a knife in stainless...it would be D2. I wonder if this is what QS-13 is?
<img src=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1188191&a=8751727&p=43891503>]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1188191&a=8751727&p=43891503>

[This message has been edited by XRAYED (edited 03-16-2001).]
 
I saw QS-13 described as a "proprietary, highly shock-resistant" steel (which could mean any number of things), and that is was tempered to a low RC (low 50s) for toughness. I would guess that if it was 1095 it would rust lickety-split. Seems like it could be any number of relatively low-carbon stainless steels (440A, AUS6) or else a tool steel like A-2, etc. Any comments on rusting, etc.?
 
XRAYED

Your right, I just talk to Bill Bagwell a few
hours ago when he came by the store. One of the guys bought a K-Bar D-2 steel and Bill
was telling him how much he like the steel.
He was showing me a piece of Damascus steel
he made about 12 " long and was going to make a fix blade out of it. It hard to figure out how someone can take a ugly piece of steel that looks like it did and turn it into a
beautiful knife. But he's going to bring the
finish product by so I can have a look what
you can do with a piece of ugly steel.

Bill show me one he was making for someone
and we put it beside the Hell's Belle from Ontario. I want tell you which one look the best. Figure it out.

Roger
 
The steel is definitely stainless or near stainless and I would pretty much bet that it is D2. I got that steel as smooth as could be by handsanding and then buffed it and it should have mirrored right up. A2 has a peel like finish but D2 takes a nice shine although the surface looks like an orange peel texture.

Interesting note is that I was shaping the guard on the grinder after I soldered it in place and I picked up the knife at the wrong spot without my gloves.....really hot. I dropped it like a hot potato and it went tip first to the concrete floor of my shop. It took a divot out of the concrete and did not even blunt the tip.

The knife takes a real nice edge and holds it fine.....or, at least, good enough for this type of knife.
 
As I recall, from the info available following the Ontario Bagwell's release, was that Queen Steel 13 was a modified version of 440C.
 
Mr Tall Goat & Co.-
That's what I was able to gather when Ontario first started doing these knives. A version of a 440 series stainless- some "proprietary" steel from Ontario that sacrifices Rockwell hardness for toughness. Something about the blades being able to absorb a shock that would cause a "failure" in a harder blade under the stresses of "combat". Not a bad tradeoff if the knife is to be used as designed. Not a utility piece, but a combat blade. If you think about the availibility of Bagwell customs: "a thousand dollars & a thousand days", it's a good option. But I guess it's a purpose-driven blade. The same blade in D2 w/ a good heat treat would be such the superior knife. Adjust wallet accordingly.

------------------
"Never give a sword to a man who can't dance" (Celtic Proverb)
AKTI# A000107
 
TWG's info is the same I heard. I have two Ontario Bagwells. The steel is definitely not D2. Very shiny and easier to sharpen than D2.

sing
AKTI #A000356
 
Well...if it is a modfied 440 they must have modified it like D2. I have mirror polished 440 easily but this stuff behaves just like D2. Now don't get me wrong here...I am not saying that it is definetely D2...but it sure acts like it.

If you take the time to rebuild one of these Ontarios...leave the finish "as is". It still looks nice. My modifed Gambler handles just as well as my other original Bagwells.

I want to do a Helles Belle as soon as I find one cheap.

 
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