Hitachi Steels

J

J. Piontek

Joined
May 10, 2016
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110
I see that you can order Hitachi blue and Hitachi white steels from places like dictum and workshop heaven. My question is why don't more US knife makers use this steel? I rarely see anyone selling knives with that type steel.

Im just asking because I am interested in that kind of steel. Thanks for any info.
 
Other than those 2 places, you can't get it, hence not many use those steels. Plus, those 2 places are very limited in dimensions. Aldo Bruno, the New Jersey Steel Baron, managed to get some Blue 2, but it went quick. Hitachi is being a stick in the mud for US knife makers, preferring to keep their steels for the use of Japanese knife makers.
 
samuraistuart said:
Other than those 2 places, you can't get it, hence not many use those steels. Plus, those 2 places are very limited in dimensions. Aldo Bruno, the New Jersey Steel Baron, managed to get some Blue 2, but it went quick. Hitachi is being a stick in the mud for US knife makers, preferring to keep their steels for the use of Japanese knife makers.
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OK that makes more sense thanks for the info.
 
Hitachi laminated steel is the only thing I use...
although I'm messing around with W1 lately
 
Jpthundernuts said:
Where do you get hitachi steel from?

I'm interested in learning more about this steel.
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The two places that you mentioned. And Murray Carter sells to his Bladesmith students in limited quantities.

I think Bill Burke gets some Takefu. You can search for that here on BF


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
HSC /// said:
The two places that you mentioned. And Murray Carter sells to his Bladesmith students in limited quantities.

I think Bill Burke gets some Takefu. You can search for that here on BF


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Awesome thank you.
 
if you go back about 2 months, there was a big discussion about this. Hitachi, being in it for the $$$ or yen, strongly controls how their steel is distributed. they release enough at a time to provide for select knife makers in Japan and basically refuse to export. that keeps demand high and allows them to charge as much as they want. part of the reason a lot of japanese knives use a clad blade is because of this. it is a whole cheaper to use a sliver of hardened steel wrapped in wrought iron or 304 stainless than to make a solid blade of the sacred white or blue
 
I got off the phone with Aldo a few hours ago. We were working on the steel analysis for a Hitachi White #1 equivalent. Keep your ears tuned for future info.
 
We have a possible available steel from a mill that looks really promising. If they can supply it in the lowest manganese for the type we will have a winner. If not it will mean a custom melt .... five metric tons !!! That will allow us to specify the exact analysis. The problem will be that Aldo will have to sell it all to make any money. So, if this gets going we need to buy it and make America Great Again ... umm, I mean make American knives great again :)
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
We have a possible available steel from a mill that looks really promising. If they can supply it in the lowest manganese for the type we will have a winner. If not it will mean a custom melt .... five metric tons !!! That will allow us to specify the exact analysis. The problem will be that Aldo will have to sell it all to make any money. So, if this gets going we need to buy it and make America Great Again ... umm, I mean make American knives great again :)
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Haha thats great news!!! Will it be laminated?
 
Yes, it will be laminated ... when you forge it between two pieces of soft steel or damascus :)

Aldo is trying to fill a need for an equivalent to Hitachi White #1. I don't think he is planning on starting a damascus or laminated steel industry. That could change, but don't plan on it. The laminated steel is available from several sources already.
 
Hey, if Aldo ends up making a White #1 equivalent, he's going to need to start shipping it to Japan! :p
From what I hear, #1 isn't being produced by Hitachi anymore (this is at least what one of my teachers has told me).
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Yes, it will be laminated ... when you forge it between two pieces of soft steel or damascus :)

Aldo is trying to fill a need for an equivalent to Hitachi White #1. I don't think he is planning on starting a damascus or laminated steel industry. That could change, but don't plan on it. The laminated steel is available from several sources already.
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Right just had to check haha.
 
Gentlemen,
I am wondering if this formula will satisfy your need for higher carbon. The steel is available. We just need to have it rolled. I am thinking that 1/8" would be the best place to start. Would love as much input as possible from you guy's. Bringing in a new grade makes me nervous.

1.1563(C125W) - 1.20 - 1.35% C, 0.10-0.30% Si, 0.10-0.25% Mn
 
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ALSO!!!!!

I would not be opposed to having this material made into a C125W/420 laminate. As a mater of fact I think it's a great idea. We already have the 52100/420 in stock. We have plans for rolling W-2/420. This stuff would make an excellent core.
 
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Aldo, either way I think it's a good product to have in the market place. If a "simple" rolling process would suffice to get a toe or two wet, then it wouldn't be too costly to find out. Just having the 1/8" plain steel would work for me. I'm wondering about market trends (growth vs. static market for your company in sales), the displacement of an existing steel type (due to competition with yourself perhaps?) & the overall market place which already exists in steel sales. Is the growth potential sufficient to warrant the risk? No idea, but I can understand your concern in tying up working capital, which may not come back quickly enough to justify the investment.

I'm a very small user who is just starting with simple stuff in blade making, but having a great steel like this would be very nice for me. It seems to me that the Hitachi steels could be used much more widely, but their marketing model is extremely narrow in its scope & by trying to protect their own nation's workers & industry, they may have shot themselves in the foot & left some room in the market for others to benefit.

Thanks for floating this idea into the forum & being willing to listen to feedback.
 
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