What kind of steel is this?

H

hunglvq

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Jun 8, 2008
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Hi mates,

Does anyone know what kind of steel is this? And what is the best condition to quench it?

This is a billet used to join the metal planks. What I was told by the elder people that the planks were used by US soldiers to reinforce the soil surface for helicopter to land on or for trucks to cross over.

People in my country used this billet to forge into chisel, knife, machete, and farming tools. It's famous for sharpness. I bought this one at the junk yard for $1.5

Thanks,

Hung


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laying_more_Marston_mat.jpg
 
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The metal planks you speak of are called Marston Matting. I've seen my fair share of it during my time in the Marine Corps. Hope that helps.
 
Hung, I fear the only reliable way to know what it is is to have it tested, but that would cost more than acquiring known billet material. if nothing else, it can be good practice to forge.

As for heat treating it, I would just go for a non magnetic soak for 5 minutes, then try an oil quench, test with a file, if it is too soft, try a water quench, it's possible it's just mild steel and won't take a heat treat.

Best of luck.
 
Hi 65535,

Thanks for your info. This is totally a hard steel. I see people make a chisel out of that.

Actually, I'm trying to make a copy of this knife. The original knife is forged by the hill tribe people in North Vietnam.

BanLac.jpg


This is the copy after raw forge. I had a local blacksmith forge it for me. It's time I get down working with the bench grinder, then send back to him for quenching. He just quenches with his personal feeling and experience.

IMG00020-20100523-1621.jpg


All the best

Hung
 
Hunglvq is there anyway you could take a pic of either the blade blank or the completed knife both sheathed and unsheathed with something next to it for scale such as a Bic lighter, ruler, or dollar bill? It would be much appreciated!:thumbup: The way it is we have no idea if it's 10 cm or 20 cm long.:confused: I really like the knife, and the ethnic scabbard!:thumbup: :cool: :D

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Hi Yvsa,

Glad that you like the knife. Give me sometime to get the pix for you. I'll try with a ruller, in inch scale. Same to me that I have to make conversion from inch to cm in order to get a feel :)

This knife is about 13" OAL, i guess. I bought it from the hilly regions of North Vietnam at the price of $15. I gave it to a friend as gift. I can borrow back to take photos.

The only thing we like about this knife is the scabbard. The blade was not forged from good steel (we assumed). I copied this blade with the purpose to replace the current one, and also to experience another type of junk yard steel. That's the fun.

We have a few pieces of hill tribe knife. If everyone is interested, I'll initiate a thread on that subject in HI Cantina. To me, they are also relatives of the khukuri knife. They share a lot of similarities.

Cheers,

Hung
 
Looks like a variation of a Hmong knife. The Hmong's traditionally inhabit the hills of southern China, Northern Vietnam and Laos. It is a beautiful knife and scabbard. Would love more information on it if you don't mind? I'm of Hmong descent myself and am really interested in traditional Hmong bladesmithing as though it seems it's a dying art here in America because the younger generation are not continuing the tradition. I plan on heading to Vietnam, particularly the Hanoi area sometime in the future and would love to hear where and when you procured that wonderful piece as I would like to speak with the smith's. Amazingly I was doing searches for khukuri's and stumbled upon this thread. Now I don't regret staying up so late.
 
Hi MilliePop,

Let's keep in touch for the H'mong interest. I'll share with you more info. A bit busy these days, hence, cannot prepare info and pix faster.

I would like to talk with the bladesmiths myself. Do let me know if you have a plan. We can form a team and go together. At least I can help as an interpreter.

Cheers,

Hung
 
Thanks Hung,

Sounds like a great idea. I'm an American first-born generation Hmong so my Hmong isn't the best but I still understand it pretty well and can speak it well enough to get by. Though I would love for you to show me around. There are actually two reasons why I want to come to Vietnam...authentic Vietnamese food and Hmong knives. I'm a huge fan of both. Though as the economy is kind of rough right now, I don't plan on making the trip for a couple of years. If you happen to make it before I do, please keep me updated when you can.

- Jimmy Yang
 
Jimmy,

Great that you can speak H'mong language. I just can speak with them in Vietnamese.

I'm eager with my topic on H'mong people.

Hung
 
Given the application, I'd expect it to be some kind of spring steel which could be 5160, 1070 or many others. Fortunately, their heat treats are mostly similar enough that I think you can make a serviceable blade.

For a "quick and dirty" primitive heat treat:

If you slowly and controllably heat the blade until it is non magnetic, the very edge will probably be a couple shades over non magnetic, and that is good, it is what you want. Heat a couple shades hotter than non magnetic (about 1500 deg F) and hold at that temp a few minutes then quench into a gallon or more of warm vegetable oil with rapid agitation of the blade to achieve a rapid quench. Don't burn your eyebrows off. After it cools there may be some soft surface decarb, but it should more or less skate a file. If it doesn't try it again. If it still doesn't try it in salty water (and hope it doesn't crack). Then temper it.

I think a one hour temper at 450 F would be a good temper for that blade.

Be sure not to over heat it. If it hasn't had any thermal cycles since it was forged, do a couple heats without quenching it, just letting it cool in air to hand warm before your attempt to harden it.
 
Thanks Nathan for your help

I'll share your info with the blacksmith. I'll let you know the result.

Hung
 
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