Question about Dive Knife Material

8

82Stang

Joined
Aug 19, 2007
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I am looking to make myself a fixed blade dive knife but unsure what material I should use for the blade. I have read that the 420C is a good starting point. Can anyone else lead me to a near care-free material suitable for salt water? Thanks in advance!
 
Having spent years in the water, and under it, I'd go with 440C or ATS34/154CM. Both are corrosion resistant, both will hold and edge. The days of the really clunky dive knives has passed. You need a blade that will cut and keep an edge, not be a rounded prybar like the old ones. 420 has little carbon. It won't rust as easilt as some steels but, in short order, it won't cut.

On the flip side, I don't know where you are diving. Shiny things in murky water can fall into the feeding patterns of some fish, like Great Barracuda and White Sharks. I know a commercial ab diver in California who survived a white shark attack. He carries the rustiest abalone iron he can find, a leaf spring with stainless calipers welded top it. He said that carrying a shiny stainless ab iron was like putting out a jig for white sharks. His scarred arms make a real point.

Go with good steel, you won't regret it. And stainless is stain less, not stain proof. Keep your gear washed down and clean.

Gene
 
82Stang said:
I am looking to make myself a fixed blade dive knife but unsure what material I should use for the blade.
Click to expand...

I once asked Dan Maragni the same question. His suggestion was 440A. He told me that because it has less carbon (than 440C) to bind up the chromium as carbides, so more of the chromium is available to fight corrosion. I respect Dan's opinion, so I will probably use 440A when I finally get around to making my own dive knife.

However, if you can get some H-1, you could make a corrosion proof knife. I tried to find some, but it does not seem to be available to the public. I finally gave in and just bought one of Tusa's H-1 dive knives.
 
Thanks for all the advice everyone! I was planning on doing a mirror finish but after reading your post Gene I am starting to have seconds thoughts on it. As for keping my gear clean I wash down after EVERY dive and once I am done for the day my knife is washed, dried and coated with silicon grease. I have a few knives to make before I make myself this dive knife I am planning so more research is needed.

Thanks again!
 
My recommendation would be to use H-1. Use a steel that has as little carbon and as much chromium as possible. Nickel and nitrogen are also good elements to have in there.
 
If you ever do find a source for H-1, please post it. I couldn't find any, and I'd love to get some.
 
Will do. I am moving this weeknd to Calgary, AB. One I am settled in I will start looking around for materials and will post whatever I will find.
 
My above comment needs to be amended. When I say that you should look for a steel with as little carbon as possible, I must qualify that by saying that you want enough carbon so that the steel can be hardened. The more carbon, the more likely the blade will be to rust, even if there is plenty of chromium.
 
if you factor in the cost of heat treating,then stellite is about three times the price of stainless. Since it has no iron in it ,it's totally "rust" proof and has very good edge holding ability. Not so very good for prying things. But since we are talking about a knife then we wouldnt pry things with it anyways lol
Hard to get any. I have three pieces on the way right now. For scales im going to use red coral on one, and tiger coral on the other .
oh yea you pretty much have to get it water jet cut of lazer cut since its kinda hard to machine, not impossible but hard to do
 
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