western blanks

[azdave35]

i have some western blanks that i am going to put handles on...i'm trying to figure what steel they are made of...i checked online and they are supposed to be 420 hc stainless...but i noticed that they are getting some major surface rust.....i didnt think stainless would rust that bad...maybe it is a low grade of stainless?

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Yeah, under normal circumstance that should not be happening with 420. Sometimes it will if they haven't been heat treated yet (or if HT improperly), if they have a rough finish (bead blast etc), or if they where ground or tumbled after plain carbon steel they'll show rust spots under the right circumstances. No stainless steel should show "major surface rust" unless used on a boat or similar. It appears to me from your description that something is wrong and I think you should call them.

 

[forcedestrike]

Low grade stainless is actually more stain resistant than the higher end ones based on higher chromium (440c<!) if its got major surface rust then its a high carbon content steel - probably 1095.

edit: unless the blades are stored in salt water. :O

 

[azdave35]

i would post a pic of the rusty blank but cant figure out how to do it

 

[polish avenger]

Remember that Western started making knives around 1910. There's a LOT of carbon steel in that history.
-Mark