Steel question

[abcdef]

A maker is using C45 steel bar (AISI 1045) on some sweet looking hawks. How does this stack up against 80CRV2, 4140, 4142 and other steels (I suppose more expensive) that others are producing?

Also posting this in the Knifemakers Discussion Forums.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

C45 is capable, if barely, of achieving good hardness in axes. What you'll mostly need to know is hard they're heat treating to.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

C45 has .45% carbon. It isn't a knife blade steel but should work quite well for a hawk just fine.

Tempering to a usable hardness is the key in a good throwing hawk far more than the steel. Hawks are usually tempered to around Rc53-55.

4140 has .40% carbon and makes tough throwing hawks. 4142 has .42% and is pretty much identical.
80Crv has .80% carbon and will take a very sharp edge but may chip in hawk throws. Proper tempering is very important in this steel for a hawk.

Another excellent and cheap steel is 5160 and all its similar spring steels (9250, 9260, etc.) It is tough and can be purchased almost anywhere.
If forging them, this is one of the better uses for FREE old truck springs. It takes a surprisingly good edge.

 

[LG&M]

A little off topic but what steel was used in the 1940 through 60 by the US makers?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

A little off topic but what steel was used in the 1940 through 60 by the US makers?

Steel grades are a relatively recent development but the steels used were roughly equivalent to a range between 1045 and 1095, give or take and depending on specific maker. Simple carbon steels.

 

[conan11]

Does that mean .45% & .95% carbon steel?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Roughly, yes. Some steels may have gone even higher in carbon content but not many because by the period you're talking about it was discovered that more than about 0.8% carbon made impact tools like axes harder to heat treat consistently to the hardness that was best for them. But historically manufacturers found a source and available grade from that producer and stuck with it because they based their methods around the material. But by the 1940's a lot had been figured out about steel and we were starting to enter what was effectively the modern era.

 

[conan11]

Roughly, yes. Some steels may have gone even higher in carbon content but not many because by the period you're talking about it was discovered that more than about 0.8% carbon made impact tools like axes harder to heat treat consistently to the hardness that was best for them. But historically manufacturers found a source and available grade from that producer and stuck with it because they based their methods around the material. But by the 1940's a lot had been figured out about steel and we were starting to enter what was effectively the modern era.

Thank you for the answer!