Question about 303 stainless

heatride

heatride

Joined
May 15, 2003
Messages
422
Can anyone tell me about 303 stainless used as bolsters and guards ? Is it good is it bad? Thanks for any and all comments in advance




Glenn Dykes
Louisiana
 
I use it for both and it works well. It polishes well and is quite corrosion resistant. It drills well, too.

Gene
 
300 series and cannot be HT'd .It is a free machining grade with high sulphur....It would be nice here to have makers comment on comparitive properties of nickel silver, 303, 304, 416 , all used for bolsters .forming ,polishing,soldering .
 
303 can be used anywhere you would use the more common 304. Benifits of 303 is that it can be machined/milled easier than 304. You'll get a much nicer machined finish. If you are going to do any milling it is worth the extra price.
 
I'm well aware that 303 cannot be HT'd. However, as in informal poll. how many makers HT their 416 bolsters? IMHO, very few. None that I know personally. The 400 series are HT'dx to increase corrosion resistance. It's not a problem with 300 series. We're talking hardware, not blades. Wrought iron and 1018 really can't be HT'd, nor can brass, NiSil nor bronze. They are ornamental.

I have no problem at all with 303 for hardware. If I'n using a bar end of ATS or 154, I may HT it for hardware, just to increase corrosion resistance. It depends on where the knife is going and the intended use.

Gene
 
I, too, am a devotee of 303 s.s. I use it in guards and pommels. Hand sand them down to about 800 grit or so, (groan), and then hit it with 1200 grit green chrome rouge on a hard buff (carefully). Seems to produce a scratch-free mirror finish (when done right). I use n.s. now for sheath ornaments instead of 303--would seem easier to use.
 
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