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what stainless has the closest characteristics to 1095?
- Thread starter kraftzion
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AUS8 is reasonably close in edge retention to 1095. And AUS8 will take that same razor edge.
440C holds an edge better than 1095 by a fair margin when both are hardened to ~58-59. . But it has a lot of chromium Carbide.
440C holds an edge better than 1095 by a fair margin when both are hardened to ~58-59. . But it has a lot of chromium Carbide.
strategy9
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It holds that working edge longer by a fair margin largely because of the carbides, but still, yeah aus8 is another option that would do well.
Shoot, even the chinese 8cr and 9cr14mov would yield similar results when manufactured properly. Like aus8, lower carbon levels (then 440c) plus lower chromium equals less carbides, all can take that fine edge, but like 1095 they'll need resharpened (nothing too difficult to do) and they just won't hold the working edge as long because of less carbides.
Shoot, even the chinese 8cr and 9cr14mov would yield similar results when manufactured properly. Like aus8, lower carbon levels (then 440c) plus lower chromium equals less carbides, all can take that fine edge, but like 1095 they'll need resharpened (nothing too difficult to do) and they just won't hold the working edge as long because of less carbides.
strategy9
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Come to think of it, sandvik 14c28n is a good bet too.
Very fine grain structure and greatly minimized carbides with a significantly lower carbon content plus a lower chromium level more akin to aus8 (and 14mov's) rather then the higher levels of 440, but that lower carbon content is then offset by added nitrogen to still be able to take and hold that very fine edge (Like 1095 carbon) while also helping to improve upon the stainlessness of just 14% chromiun...
You add your chromium for your stainless properties, but it reacts with the carbon to form carbides so you lower the carbon to minimize that effect, and add nitrogen in its place so that it still performs like would with a higher carbon level but without the carbides. (While also improving upon the stainless affects)...
Considering that simple carbon steels (like 1095) are the staples of old razor steels, and 14c28n was specifically designed as a stainless razor steel, that might actually be the closest thing you'll get to a "stainless 1095" as the op requested?
That's my final answer!
Very fine grain structure and greatly minimized carbides with a significantly lower carbon content plus a lower chromium level more akin to aus8 (and 14mov's) rather then the higher levels of 440, but that lower carbon content is then offset by added nitrogen to still be able to take and hold that very fine edge (Like 1095 carbon) while also helping to improve upon the stainlessness of just 14% chromiun...
You add your chromium for your stainless properties, but it reacts with the carbon to form carbides so you lower the carbon to minimize that effect, and add nitrogen in its place so that it still performs like would with a higher carbon level but without the carbides. (While also improving upon the stainless affects)...
Considering that simple carbon steels (like 1095) are the staples of old razor steels, and 14c28n was specifically designed as a stainless razor steel, that might actually be the closest thing you'll get to a "stainless 1095" as the op requested?
That's my final answer!
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Of the knives I have 12C27 and 8cr13mov are the two that act most like 1095. In my experience AUS8 needs to be minimum 58 HRC, even compared to 1095 at a lower HRC, same goes for 8cr13mov. Get much below that on both and they don't hold an edge as good as 1095. 12c27, AUS8 and 8cr13mov have all proven to me to be as tough as 1095, unless you put them in a vice or break up bricks. Doing normal stuff they are great.
The real question is what will you be doing with the knife.
The real question is what will you be doing with the knife.
chiral.grolim
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I'm surprised no one asked already... What attributes of 1095 are you seeking? Toughness? Hardness? Abrasion resistance? Ease of sharpening? Cheap?
420HC was basically developed as a corrosion-resistant 1095.
In my experience, 1095 is usually HT'd to ~57 Rc. It lacks harder carbide-formers so is relatively easy to sharpen even on basic stones. At 57Rc and lower, it is fairly tough (good for wood-work) but won't hold an edge long against harder objects and abrades very easily (very poor retention). It also rusts easily.
In Ankerson's thread, 1095's sibling XC90 (tested in an Opinel#8) is shown in the coarse-edge section: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...based-on-Edge-Retention-cutting-5-8-quot-rope
Right above it in the test was an Opinel#8 in 12C27M (Inox). It performs better than the XC90 but not by much.
Buck's 420HC is the American equivalent to 12C27M, is HT'd to ~59 Rc by Buck, is fairly tough, will hold an edge in non-abrasive use quite well, is easy to sharpen when needed, is quite corrosion-resistant, and is common on their inexpensive models.
Step above 420HC and you'll find 440A-B-C and their equivalents in Japanese "Aus" and Chinese "Cr" steels. 440A is a common alternate to 1095 in traditional knives (e.g. Camillus), Randall used 440B as a stainless alternative to their O1 knives, and I recall reading that 440C was developed as a stainless alternative to 52100 for bearings. The point of these steels seems to have been an increase in wear-resistance through carbide-volume while retaining corrosion resistance, but toughness and also ease of sharpening gets worse as their carbide content increases.