Tests for Carbon vs Stainless Steel

J

johno

Joined
Aug 12, 1999
Messages
779
Anyone have any neat tests for determining if a knife is stainless or not ? I've been using saturated copper sulfate, and seeing if the copper plates out onto to the steel which is a sign of carbon steel. It helps to clean the area with something like lighter fluid, and to apply to a tiny area with a toothpick as the copper doesn't always rub off easily with an eraser. I guess applying to a small area on the edge and then touching up on a stone would work well too.
 
That reminds me of a knife I bought when I was a kid. It didn't say stainless steel on it but it was so shiny I assumed it was. The first day I had it I cut a lemon with it and watched it patinate before my very eyes -- like watching a Polaroid picture develop; it darkened in seconds.
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-Cougar Allen :{)
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This post is not merely the author's opinions; it is the trrrrrruth. This post is intended to cause dissension and unrest and upset people, and ultimately drive them mad. Please do not misinterpret my intentions in posting this.
 
I wonder has there ever been a test on the forums that actually tested high carbon steel blades against stainless in real world tests. Does this make sense or is it apples to oranges. You know like the tests that Mike did comparing the seven inch blades. A tough test that pits stainless against rusty in performance. I hear so much on the forums as far as preference and ease or lack there of of sharpening. I have some rusty ones but as sick as this sounds I bought one of them because I think it looks way cool when you get that black patina stain. Had a cripple creek barlow that I took to an apple. THe whole blade stained and at first I flipped and then quickly realized it gave it some character and I loved it. Stupid reason to buy a particular steel I know but hey it makes me happy. Any threads that have done tests like this??
ALex
 
Bor: i'm sure lots of people have thought about it, but the problem would be desideing on which carbon and stainless steel have virtually the exact same end use. Because if you don't the tests will start to hold very little weight. It would of course be unfair to test 5160 vs. ATS-34 and make the test test knives 18 inches long and designed for heavy chopping and prying. And it would also be just as unfair to test 420V and 5160 and make the standard test knife 4 inches long and test it on cutting cardboard.

Well, I guess the long and short of my rambling is Apples vs. Oranges unless you really try to make the tests fair.

Sincerely,
Adam

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Self improvement is a hobby of mine :).

 
You could also leave it in the shower for an hour and see if it rusts. That would be a cheap and easy way to telling how stainless it is.

Sincerely,
Adam

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Self improvement is a hobby of mine :).

 
The shower test is inconclusive as a lot of people know how to care for carbon steel since most tools, firearms, crew served weapons, etc., aren't stainless. I seem to recall that the NRA tested BreakFree when it came out by applying it to a nail and then suspending the nail half way into a container of water for year, with the result that no rust formed.

I've heard that a form of the shower test is used by the Ghurkas, to weed out recruits who start crying when their khukuris get a spot of rust while they're in the bush. Evidently other services like the SAS, Foreign Legion, USMC, and such are monitoring the results as it's a big problem anymore :^)
 
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