Steel Questions

R

rpbali

Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
223
Hi, I am currently working on my first knife (and have been for a while) and I am almost done filing the bevels. I will not be doing the heat treat for a while on it though, and so I have made designs for the next knife I want to make. Using AutoCad I came up with a design I like, and made a cardboard model of it to see if I like the feel of it. Anyway, onto my question. The current knife I am working on is made from an old file, and so I don't know what kind of steel it is. For my next one I would like to get some good blade steel.

My local House of Tools sells 440c and ATS34, and I am wondering what these are like to work with. Note that I will be doing all work with files. I have also looked at Admiral's website, and looked at things like 1095, 01, 5160, A2 and some others. To make things easy, I wouldn't mind buying from 'HoT', but would like opinions on working with these steels, as well as end results.

Thanks a lot for putting up with questions like these, I really appreciate it.

-Jason Dalsgaard
 
Not knowing what type of knife or use you have designed makes it a bit hard to advise on the steel.
The ATS34 will make a good knife. You will have to send it off for HT, but that is not expensive.
Stacy
 
bladsmth said:
Not knowing what type of knife or use you have designed makes it a bit hard to advise on the steel.
The ATS34 will make a good knife. You will have to send it off for HT, but that is not expensive.
Stacy
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The knife is a fixed blade with a 4" blade and 4.25" handle. It will be for general EDC, Camping, Hunting, etc. Just a general purpose knife. I am planning on either 5/32" or 3/16" thick. Full flat grind.

And I do plan on sending it off to get Heat Treated, as I am not set up to do so and I would like to have it done well.
 
Thanks Stacy, I think I will head to House of Tools tomorrow and pick up some ATS34.
 
its what i did for my first ones, as well they dont sell the knifemaking stuff where i live though anymore

admiral steel wont let you paypal them if you are canadian either and its not worth buying from them unless you are buying alot because the shipping would be more then the metal.
 
I recommend this

Rob is a really great guy and his customer service is great. Ive bought kydex, O1 and 1095 from him. The BEE grinder he sells is really nice too.
 
rpbali said:
Thanks Stacy, I think I will head to House of Tools tomorrow and pick up some ATS34.
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Let us know how that goes. If they still have blade steel there, they are probably the last H.O.T in the country to do so.

There are lots of knife makers in Saskatoon.

440C will make a serviceable blade. ATS34 will make a much better blade but sometimes has dirty inclusions that show up at the most inconvenient times. There are other steels available to you but either of those would do.

Rob!
 
Rob! said:
Let us know how that goes. If they still have blade steel there, they are probably the last H.O.T in the country to do so.

There are lots of knife makers in Saskatoon.

440C will make a serviceable blade. ATS34 will make a much better blade but sometimes has dirty inclusions that show up at the most inconvenient times. There are other steels available to you but either of those would do.

Rob!
Click to expand...

Ya, I just checked the HOT website again, and they only have ATS-34 in 1/8" thick. I will probably use your site and I am thinking I will go with the 5/32" O1. I completely forgot about your site until Keith mentioned it; I haven't been there in a while.

Thanks for the help everyone.
 
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