Steel question

[Lostcracker]

My first post on this forum and looking forward to any input im an amatuer blacksmith with no training just what ive learned from sites like this..my question is i have sumone asking me to make a fillet knife for them and i understand that saw blades have very good steel suited for this kind of thin flexable knife. I have a few craftsman hand saws both carpenter and what i think is a 1 handed sum what limb or crosscut saw. My question is what kind of steel is in these and will they b sutable to use as donors for this style of knife..again im just a novice looking for info thanks to any reply

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Welcome to Shop Talk.

Saw blades can be anything, hand saws may ( or may not) be 1095.

You will be MUCH smarter to buy a bar of the desired steel and make the knife from that.

For fillet blades, 52100, AEBL, and CPM-S35VN are all good choices.

 

[Lostcracker]

Thank you for the info i'll check with the steel supplier here and see if they have or can get some of what youve recomended

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I doubt the local steel supplier has many choices in knife blade steels. The knife supply companies sell knife steel. Aldo Bruno, who trades as The New jersey Steel Baron, carries a lot, as do USA Knifemaker, Alpha Knife supply, Jantz, and Texas Knife Supply ( and many others).