Sword Material Advice

T

toolmaker

Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
122
hello. I am new here and i already posted a simalar post in the knife section of this forum. I didnt know there was a sword forum.

I am getting ready to manufacture a Cane Sword for my dad, a Gift.
I would like any suggestion to the type of metal to use for the blade. I have been working with hardened steels all my life, i looked at stellite, Haynes25(L605), waspalloy, inconel, etc. but i would appreciate anyone with practical experience for their advice.

Blade will be 28 inches long
Bone handle 9 inches long
blade will have very slight curve


if anyone has questions, please ask away. I truly appreciate any help in this.
 
I put a short answer to you in the knife forum section about using S7. I read EVERYTHING that has been posted on sword steel in this forum and two others for that matter. 5160, S7, and L6 seem to get great praise overall. ALot of people go for 5160 over the other but I think that may be due at least somewhat to it being available. I found some S7 at
http://www.mscdirect.com/
and so far have like working with it. Which really doesn't mean much given that I am very new to this all.:p So take all of this with a tiny grain of salt.
 
for some practical advice from some folks who may know the answer. There could be a lengthy discussion on topix such as:
Will you forge it, or will it be made primarily by stock removal?
Will you heat treat it?

These things and others can affect the choiice of steels
 
from what everyone has emailed and posted it seems L6 seems to be the winner here.

I will post some pics when i am finished with it, thank you all for the advice.
 
In case you are stock removing, I have read that L6 is only available in round bar stock and thus only suitable for forging. Good luck, project sounds cool.
 
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