What type of steel does HI use?

Sharp Knives 86

Sharp Knives 86

Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Messages
783
Just curious. Most of the heavy duty knives I own and use are 1095 carbon steel so I was wondering how do the steel used for the HI kuks fair against 1095?
 
Sharp Knives 86 said:
Just curious. Most of the heavy duty knives I own and use are 1095 carbon steel so I was wondering how do the steel used for the HI kuks fair against 1095?
Click to expand...
H.I. Uses 5160 spring steel usually scavenged from your higher end commercial trucks and busses. It has been this way since forever. They usually harden the sweet spot to approx. 58 Rc.

Joe Talmadge on knifeart said:
The 10-series -- 1095 (and 1084, 1070, 1060, 1050, etc.) Many of the 10-series steels for cutlery, though 1095 is the most popular for knives. When you go in order from 1095-1050, you generally go from more carbon to less, from better edge holding to less edge holding, and tough to tougher to toughest. As such, you'll see 1060 and 1050, used often for swords. For knives, 1095 is sort of the "standard" carbon steel, not too expensive and performs well. It is reasonably tough and holds an edge very well. It rusts easily. This is a simple steel, which contains only two alloying elements: .95% carbon and .4% manganese. The various kabars are usually 1095 with a black coating.

5160- A steel popular with forgers, it is extremely popular now and a very high-end steel. It is essentially a simple spring steel with chromium added for hardenability. It has good edge holding, but is known especially for its outstanding toughness (like L-6). Often used for swords (hardened in the low 50s Rc) because of its toughness, and is also used for hard use knives (hardened up near the 60s Rc).
Click to expand...
 
5160 is my favorite steel to have knives forged from. It is tough over wide range of hardness which works out extremely well for hard use blades.

The ol master Bill Bagwell also uses 5160 in his exceptional bowies.

I have also had two other knives forged for me from this steel. It takes and holds an excellent edge. Plus is easy to resharpen. Works well to maintain the edge with a steel.
It also holds up to very serious use.

No worries in the steel department.
 
5160 and 1095 are my favorite steels.

Khukuris and KaBars are my favorite blades, my jarhead brother's favorites too.

Coincidence? Nope.
 
Wolf_1989 said:
5160 and 1095 are my favorite steels.

Khukuris and KaBars are my favorite blades, my jarhead brother's favorites too.

Coincidence? Nope.
Click to expand...

When I deployed overseas I carried a massive KA-BAR on my shoulder (that I could draw downward). If I was ever in a combat zone again, I'd carry a khukuri in a heartbeat. They were pretty good with allowing you to have anything you wanted. Not sure if that's changed now... but guys carried revolvers, or semi-autos that their family had carried, or went and bought sidearms to carry (since the M-9's were utter crap).

If I had to pick I'd take the M-43 with me. :P
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top