Stainless Steel Info.

[philip88]

Hi everybody,

Stainless steel is usually more expensive than normal steel, so some companies can tell that they are using SS to make knives, swords... but in reality, they can use normal steel only...

Is it possible to easily see the differences on the surface of the steel only with your eyes and or the help of a magnifier ? Is somebody can send some pics in order to see the surface differences with a magnifier ?

Thank you in advance.
PHILIP

 

[Jared Stenoien]

I'll assume you're talking about crap knife companies, the stainless they use isn't really any more expensive than mild steel. Now when you get into the high carbon stainless steels then that's a different story. Any real company isn't going to put it's reputation on the line to save a few bucks. I don't believe there's a surface difference in them that you'd be able to see with a reasonably priced visible light microscope.

 

[IronWolf]

Try using Birchwood Casey gun blue. Clean a small area, perhaps under the handle, or in another inconspicuous area. apply a small amount of gun blue. most steels will react immediately, most stainless will not. I say most, as D2 will act like stainless to the gun blue, and some cheap "stainless steels" from overseas will react. although those same "stainless steels" that do react, have been known to rust as fast as O1.

Ken