Source of steel for a single knife

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gratmars

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Jun 3, 2014
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Does anyone know where I can source a single piece of steel for a blade I want to make? I am somewhat new to knife making and when I started I bought a stupid amount of 1095. I have a project in mind that needs a thick(1/4-5/16) piece of tool steel about 3"x12". Aldo sells some 3' chunks, but I'm doing this for a gift, am a little tight on cash and don't want to dump $100 on one piece. If anyone knows where I can get a single piece, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Garrett
 
McMaster Carr carries a fair assortment of tool steels..

If you're really pressed for cash, and not shy, you might consider contacting some local machine shops and see if they'd be willing to sell you something out of their scrap bins. Be specific about what alloy you're looking for, and be sure that they've labeled the piece, otherwise you'll likely end up with something else and heat treating is a crap-shoot.
 
i4Marc said:
Please be specific which tool steel you're looking for.
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Something like o-1, s-7 or 3v if I could get it for the right price. I want it to be tough since I'm giving it my brother in law who's a Marine and I'm sure it will see some hard use.
 
gratmars said:
Does anyone know where I can source a single piece of steel for a blade I want to make? I am somewhat new to knife making...
Click to expand...

gratmars said:
I want it to be tough since I'm giving it my brother in law who's a Marine and I'm sure it will see some hard use.
Click to expand...

Interesting that this is my first post on this forum, but if you're new to knife making, should you be giving someone you care about a tool that may be needed to save his life?

You may be confident in your skills to risk your own life, but I'd hesitate giving a gift that may save or cost someone their life without having gone through some sort of comprehensive testing of my blades and my skill as a blacksmith

Just something to think about.....

as always
peace and love
billyO
 
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weo said:
Interesting that this is my first post on this forum, but if you're new to knife making, should you be giving someone you care about a tool that may be needed to save his life?

You may be confident in your skills to risk your own life, but I'd hesitate giving a gift that may save or cost someone their life without having gone through some sort of comprehensive testing of my blades and my skill as a blacksmith

Just something to think about.....

as always
peace and love
billyO
Click to expand...

Great question. Although he is a Marine I highly doubt this knife will ever get used on duty. He hunts a ton and spends a good deal of time in the woods. I'll be using a known steel and having it professionally heat treated. There should be zero reason for this to fail due to anything but absolute abuse, and even then, a 1/4" chunk of o-1 will be super tough.

I did find a single 18" piece though. Thanks for the help everyone.
 
This is one of those places where having filled out your profile would help a lot. There might be a nearby maker who would give you a piece...but you will never know unless you fill out that profile.
 
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