Simple steels?

[Yvsa]

:
I bought a sweet little 5" hunter from Ronnie Foster down at the Arkansas Knife Show a while back.
It has a beautiful temper line that I know the 1084 is supposed to have when done correctly.

What gets me is the edge that's on the little knife.

Does all the simple steels like 1084 take that scary sharp edge when heat treated correctly?

I also have an old cable damascus blade that I bought as a throwing knife with the handle loosely forged out of the cable.
I put a convex edge on it and it also takes and holds the same scary sharp edge.

Isn't the steel cables made from the simple steels as well?


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>>>>---Yvsa-G@WebTV.net---->®

"VEGETARIAN".............
Indin word for lousy hunter.

 

[raker]

Yvsa, I have been told that the good cable is 1095. It could also be in the carbon range from about .7% to the .95%. I think that during the forging of the cable, the smaller wires, causes it loose more of the carbon when forged. It is best to fold at least once or twice. If folded more, the grain of the strands begins to dissappear. I believe that the proper heat treat is necessary for any of the carbon steels and they all should be able to get that "scary sharp".

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Ray Kirk
http://www.tah-usa.net/raker

 

[Pentlatch]

Simple steels are great, they will discolor but that just gives them character. They are easy to sharpen once the correct bevel is established. My el cheapo Russel knife has 1095 steel and it is my sharpest knife, it will rust - a little steel wool takes care of that.

Lots of Russel blades are at jantzsupply.com

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

Properly heat treated and tempered high quality carbon steel makes a tremendous knife blade. Those French Opinel folder with the carbon blades are one of the best cutting knives on the market for under $10.

Recently I've been making more blade from M2 HSS tool steel which also takes and holds a fantastic edge.

The only enemy carbon blades have is user neglect. Otherwise they live forever!

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http://www.wilkins-knives.com
http://www.wilkins.de