RWL-34 Possibilities

H

he crow

Joined
Sep 7, 2001
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7
Has anyone every made a knife of RWL-34? I'm thinking of using this steel for a project. I'm expecting it to be quite similar to its parent ATS 34, only a little easier to grind. I've also heard fantastic things about its finished appearance. Can anyone confirm or deny these rumors?

In case anyone is wondering, I'm tinkering with the idea of purchasing some RWL-34 and Odin's Eye from Damasteel. The plan is to create a san mai blade with the RWL in the middle. Does this sound like a bad idea for any obvious reasons? Thanks.
 
Polishes about the same, performs better...can't answer the san-mai qu sorry :)
 
They say it polishes better and takes a better edge due to the powder steel technology.
 
Can't say much about the performance, I haven't gotten any feedback positive or negative. It takes a polish like you wouldn't believe though. Looks like a pool of mercury. The best finish that I've ever seen!

C Wilkins
 
Best mirror finish I can get with any steel, by far. It's great steel to work. Grinds easily, finishes fast, and takes a wicked edge. Nice stuff.

BTW, while it's almost the same formula as ATS-34 or 154CM, that little pinch (0.2%) of Vanadium makes a big difference.
 
Where are you guys getting this stuff? How much is it? Is the heat treat basically the same as ATS34?
 
Thanks for all the feedback. After doing some research, I've come to the conclusion that I would be a fool to try to do any type of forging with the damasteel. After all, I am paying for that 100% density. An odin's eye blade with rwl-34 accents is starting to look real pretty inside my head.
 
If all you want is a good steel for accents, it's hard to beat 416. One nice feature of 416 is that you can buy pin stock for it, and not have to make your own. At least that's nice for me, since I have no capacity to do that. If you want to harden the accents, then I guess RWL-34 would be ideal.
 
RWL 34!, It's problably good for finish. ButI want to know about CPM S30V.
If this stuff does what it is advertised to do, Who needs RWL34.
 
Well, until I get a whole lot smarter S30V can't be polished - at all! And after spending a goodly number of years learning how to get a good mirror polish, I'm not going to give it up easily. :)

Besides, RWL-34 is a WHOLE LOT more fun to work than S30V. :(
 
I've made a lot of knives from RWL-34. It's made by the Damasteel folks in Sweden. It does take a great polish, heat treats without distortion problems and in the annealed state can be filed milled etc with no trouble. The steel grinds like butter. I've worked a lot with D2 steel and D2 works in the annealed state like RWL 34 fully hardened... :-) If you're used to grinding D2 or CPM 420V, be careful starting with RWL 34 because you'll grind the blade away before you realise it!
 
Ooops! There I go again, thinking only of function and not of
aesthetics. Sorry, Jerry. With just that little bit of Vanadium,
I'll bet RWL 34 is a real good performer.
 
What that small amount of Vanadium does for the steel is to help refine the grain even more that would be achieved by powder metallurgy by itself. As you might expect, this steel takes an outstanding edge.
 
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