Steel Choice for Forging Vs Stock Removal

[VorpelSword]

A very basic question"

I understand that some steels are suitable for forging while others are not.

What aspect of steel formulation makes some alloys unsuitable for forging?

 

[Larrin]

This article discusses what controls forging difficulty: https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/04/29/steel-forgeability/
To summarize: adding more alloying elements makes it harder to move with a hammer, even while hot.
But there are other aspects that may make a bladesmith choose a steel for forging based on how they can be heat treated. A steel that can be heat treated in a forge, as opposed to a furnace, for example.

 

[Josh1992]

If I can add also don’t pick any air quench steel and maybe avoid some oil quench because if you let it cool down to where it’s not glowing then it’s hardened and well that throws off all your hard work on that blade. Learned this one from experience…