There you go, you are in McLean and I am in Norfolk. There are also a lot of guys up your way. I-81 is lined with them. I would recommend you join the Shenandoah Valley Knife Collectors Club. There are a lot of makers in it, and they have a great show every year the first weekend of April. Pop's is always there and has great supplies and some steel, as well as some other suppliers. I am tere, too, with handle material and knives. I hope to see you there.
I had forgotten old files. Treat them as W2 as far as HT goes (most are W1/W2 or very close to that).
BTW, I have been a Goldsmith for 40 years. If you need anything ... or are looking for equipment .... give me a shout by email. I probably have three shops worth of stuff in storage. Once the new shop is done this spring, all that I don't use in it will get sold or given away.
As to the cost of steel - always remember that it is usually the lowest cost part of the knife. Quality steel can help you make a quality knife, but no matter what your skills are poor steel won't ever make a quality knife.
As to Devins comment, it is true. I probably have $50,000 to $75,000 in tools and such, and am getting ready to build a new $50,000 shop. But ,even though I have a couple hundred pounds of forging steel, it probably didn't cost more than $500 total. I will die still owning a lot of that steel. If I am lucky, I won't die broke, too.
