Steels I have used several steels in a effort to find a steel that stands up to my standards,one that's applicable to my forging and heat treatment. I use only forgeable carbon steels. Some of the steels I have used are as follows and listed in carbon content 1065 (Excellent for clay coated Japanese blades,produces a nice traditional hamon line but a little low in carbon content for a high performance user) 5160 (Very popular steel and nice for the begining forger,relatively tough steel due to chromium but lacks the carbon for a serious cutter in my opinion) 1075 (Another nice 10 series steel,again nice for a hamon line and carbon content is getting up there for a decent blade) 15n20 (Basically Swedish version of 1075 with nickle added, excellent high contrast companion steel in damascus and not bad on its own as a blade) 1080 ,1084 (Near identical steels,Great as a stand alone steel or in a damascus mix with 15N20) 1095 (Famous steel used in Kabar knives, carbon content is nice but has heat treat issues also steel mills are putting out to inconstant of batches) W-1 (The famous `hair popping` file knives and tinker made knives of yester` year was made from this steel, it has a wide range of high carbon content. This is my main steel I use, I have found and use a supply with carbon content near 1.25 points of carbon which is at the upper end. Also makes a great hamon line) W-2 (This is W-1 big brother, a little tougher steel with same high carbon content, I use this when i can but the supply is getting sparse to find hence I use W-1) 52100 (A high carbon content steel, This is a BALL BEARING steel, never intended to be a blade steel,surrounded by alot of magical mystery heat treat. Can it be a good blade? YES, but in my view the complicated heat treat to make this steel do what other steels do naturally makes this steel useless) Damascus Steel |