steel for a tough knife

[thedirector93]

so im gonna make a 12 inch tactical knife soon(also 1/4 inch thick), and i want it to be super tough, something that can go to hell and back and still keep cutting, i've seen ones made from 1095 work pretty well, but i've read that 5160 is really tough. which one would work better, assuming they're both properly heat treated

 

[Huntsman Knife Co. LLC.]

5160 is inherently tougher assuming optimal HT. Check out 80CRV2 as well. Its supposed to be superior to 5160 and made with better manufacturing tolerances. One of the problems with 5160 is its all made for the auto industry.

 

[sirupatespecial]

5160 is inherently tougher assuming optimal HT. Check out 80CRV2 as well. Its supposed to be superior to 5160 and made with better manufacturing tolerances. One of the problems with 5160 is its all made for the auto industry.

Well there ya go. Never heard of 80crv2. 5160 is cheap too. Or, if you use old leaf springs, almost free?

 

[Huntsman Knife Co. LLC.]

Also 80crV is eutectoid so you can easily HT it yourself. Another great reason to use it.

If you are doing your own HT I would only use 1084, 80crV2 or 5160. All easy to HT and can be done with few tools.

 

[Andy Johnston]

If you get leaf springs from a junk yard do they need to be softened?

 

[Kentucky]

If you get leaf springs from a junk yard do they need to be softened?

they need to be normalized/stress relief several times.

 

[Rennd]

If you want the toughest blades possible, use L6, S7, or Cpm 3v. S7 and 3v are hard to heat treat, though. I'd send it out.

 

[M.FREEZE]

L-6, S-7, 3-V.... Yes, yes, yes

 

[i4Marc]

Well there ya go. Never heard of 80crv2. 5160 is cheap too. Or, if you use old leaf springs, almost free?

If you haven't heard of 80CrV2 you may have seen it listed as 1080+. Same thing.