What is a Good Starter Steel if I send the Blades out for HT

Stark Knives

Stark Knives

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Mar 19, 2010
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I'm looking to make some stock removal knives. What would be a good starting steel? I'm not planning on HTing my knives myself so that won't matter. I'm looking for a good steel that makes a good knife and isn't too hard to grind.

One more thing, is 1084 a good steel for kitchen knives?
 
1084 is a fine steel to start with. If you are doing stock removal, pay the extra cost and get precision ground. Since it is a non-stainless steel 1084 will tarnish over time (develop a patina). If you can live with that, or are willing to do a little extra maintenance compared to stainless, it should do fine in the kitchen or in the field. Otherwise, try good old 440C.
 
Erdbeereis said:
I'm not planning on HTing my knives myself so that won't matter.
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Then the steel type doesn't really matter either. The most common alloys aren't super-crazy different in they way they drill/grind when annealed. Decide based on costs and the attributes you want in the finished knife. 1084 and 440C are both good steels that won't break the bank. Definitely pay a couple bucks extra and have it surface ground, no matter what you buy.
 
I usually recommend 1084 for carbon blades, and CPM-154 or CPM-S35VN for stainless blades. All HT suppliers can do these very well, and they are great steels. They are also available from most knife steel suppliers. To be honest, if all blade steels became unavailable but these three, I would not worry at all.
 
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1095 is fine if sending it to someone familiar with the HT. I was not aware that Aldo was out of 1084 ? Did you just check the site, or did you call him.
 
I too would opt for 440c or AEB-L. I'm an all around stainless guy, though.

Since you're just starting out, no matter what steel you pick, grinding is going to feel the same. I still have not found any common steel that is "easier" or "harder" to grind. Some feel a bit different, but grinding is grinding, IMO. Grinding pre vs post HT, now there's a difference.

At least 90% of folks won't notice difference between the carbon steels mentioned, assuming HT and geometry is the same.

Just grab up a few bars of what's cheap and start learning!
 
unclejoe357 said:
I too would opt for 440c or AEB-L. I'm an all around stainless guy, though.

Since you're just starting out, no matter what steel you pick, grinding is going to feel the same. I still have not found any common steel that is "easier" or "harder" to grind. Some feel a bit different, but grinding is grinding, IMO. Grinding pre vs post HT, now there's a difference.

At least 90% of folks won't notice difference between the carbon steels mentioned, assuming HT and geometry is the same.

Just grab up a few bars of what's cheap and start learning!
Click to expand...

D2 makes it feel like I'm working with worn out belts ;) .
 
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