What is the best metal for blade based weapons
Best metal for blades
Lincoln Barnes
Caleb Kelly
440c
Jonathan Martinez
S30V
Joshua Fisher
420BI
Dominic Morales
D2 tool steel
Alexander Russell
Diamonds
Lincoln Rivera
Depends on what you're looking for, but you can't go wrong with D2 tool steel.
Jaxson Walker
Aus-8, VG-10, D2
Brayden Wright
There is no “best steel.” It’s all about compromise
Nathan Hughes
I vote for these
Hunter Nelson
AUS-8, D2, O1.
Jonathan Cruz
I have heard that the metal used in leaf springs for heavy duty applications (Truck suspensions for example) makes good blades if you're doing a DIY blacksmithing project, never looked into it though.
Luis Perez
Oh hey. Anons who seem to know what they're talking about.
Any good sources to learn basic information about the various steels and their tradeoffs?
Easton Parker
Mythril
Jayden Morris
Kukri House in Nepal supposedly makes all their kukris from leaf springs. Or so I have heard.
Aiden Powell
That'd be 5160 carbon steel. It compares pretty favorably with D2 steel but it isn't quite as hard.
Gabriel Myers
How would 01 tool steel work, guys? My chief recommended it.
Jacob Hughes
Can I presume that means it will be more ductile and harder to break?
Nathaniel Ross
Eickhorn-Solingen bayonets are made out of spring steel. Really hard spring steel, though. 55Si7 (HRC 51-53).
John Lewis
Ya, kukris for instance are typically deferentially tempered with a hard edge and a soft spine. The chromium content lets it polish it up real nice, it will rust but it's quite resistant to pitting. Hence it's use on leaf springs.
Zachary Hill
Silver steel for knives, vorpal steel for swords.
David Wood
Can't go wrong with W2, provided you heat-treat it, correctly.
Luis Howard
Most modern steels are fine, assuming the manufacturer will name it. Even if it’s just the same old stuff jazzed up a bit (like 440A vs 7Cr17MoV)
A better question is what to avoid.
The answer is “Surgical Stainless”