Tiller tines

Raymond Richard

Raymond Richard

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
5,705
This past weekend I did the Washington Knife Show in Kelso. Just about everyone that knows me knows I'm a sucker for old steel. Anyway a fellow I have know from shows since I first started making gave me a box of tiller tines that were marked with Ortulan stamped on each blade. Anyway I emailed this one outfit and they hadn't the slightest idea as to what the steel was. The fellow said that Ortulan would contract out the blades and then they would put there mark on them. Here's a list of steel that I'm pretty sure they aren't: 10 series, 5160, 52100, L-6 and the W series. My thoughts are now that I own the best steel ever for making knife blades. First picture has what the original tine looked like before I annealed and flattened them out. Also a picture of the first blade that is totally heat treated. I hardened the blade in Texaco Type A slow quench and it hardened up fine and did a 400 degree temper. Part of the deal for these blade was for me to make the giver a knife out of them.

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Whatever the steel is, it sure has a really cool knife inside it! :D. I wonder if it is an A series steel? A2 is a pretty darn tough steel, can be oil quenched in thin sections, and holds an edge pretty darn good. Have you tried plate quenching it?


-Xander
 
fast14riot said:
Whatever the steel is, it sure has a really cool knife inside it! :D. I wonder if it is an A series steel? A2 is a pretty darn tough steel, can be oil quenched in thin sections, and holds an edge pretty darn good. Have you tried plate quenching it?


-Xander
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I forged the blade out of half a tine. Its not A-2. It would have air hardened while I was forging it. I'm starting to think maybe S series but that's another guess. I think I'll have a piece tested since I have a pretty good supply of them.
 
Phil Dwyer said:
Heck, I'll get you TWO boxes of tiller tines for a knife! :D
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Phil, I work for tines. There's more about what is going on. The fellow that gave me the tines has been taking care of his 104 year old Dad. Pretty sure the knife maybe going to his Dad so I felt like doing something special. I'll have it done tomorrow and post a picture or it.
 
Hey Ray, I was quite sure there were more intimate details behind the exchange with "a fellow I have know from shows since I first started making" than simply a box of tiller tines. Not sure a Centurion will make YOU feel any younger though, but hey, it's worth a shot I guess. Looking forward to seeing what you whip up. All the best, Phil
 
Ray, S series is also air hardening, at least S-7. Many of the tines I have had dealings with are 4140 or the like. They need to be hard faced to last very long. S series or any air hardening steel would not work well for most to hard face. Even if it is not the "best" for a knife, your project has a very nice sentiment and I would probably have done the same. Good on ya.
 
mete said:
Could they be one of the "plow steels" ?
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Normally when I have a steel that I don't know the type I'll bring out the known steels that I have and try and match the spark. The spark from this steel is unlike anything I have seen. I'm just amazed at how hard the steel got in the slow quench. I'll get it sharpened up today and see how it holds an edge. The steel forges like a dream. Here's a photo of what it looked like yesterday.

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Chuck, Do you know an outfit locally that does the testing?
 
Ray, no I don't. Chuck Bybee was going to do some for me at one time but he never followed through. Tue scrap yard, Cherry City metals has a hand held but he does not like using it on carbon steels. Not accurate enough.
 
A C Richards said:
Ray, no I don't. Chuck Bybee was going to do some for me at one time but he never followed through. Tue scrap yard, Cherry City metals has a hand held but he does not like using it on carbon steels. Not accurate enough.
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I had a friend in Regina that worked in the steel mill there that I could send steel to and get it checked for free but he retired a few years ago. Wasn't there a steel mill in Estacada that I heard did testing but for all I know its probably closed down now. Once I finish this knife I'm going to start another blade and play with the steel more. I'd heard about Bybee possible doing it.
 
I found a place locally that could test it for me but the price he quoted me helped jog my mind. I remembered I had a piece of O-1, in fact I had bought some from Chuck Richards a few years ago that I can't find. Anyway I sparked the O-1 I had and then the tine. O-1 it is.
 
Raymond Richard said:
I found a place locally that could test it for me but the price he quoted me helped jog my mind. I remembered I had a piece of O-1, in fact I had bought some from Chuck Richards a few years ago that I can't find. Anyway I sparked the O-1 I had and then the tine. O-1 it is.
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Man, talk about a sweet score! About how many pounds of them did you get?


-Xander
 
Finished up the knife and sheath yesterday. Started forging another blade out of the tine steel. I'm really enjoying this steel.

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Cool Ray. Glad you found a good use for that chunk of O-1. Surprised you could lift it to spark test it.:D Got a bunch more if you run out of spark testing material..
 
A C Richards said:
Cool Ray. Glad you found a good use for that chunk of O-1. Surprised you could lift it to spark test it.:D Got a bunch more if you run out of spark testing material..
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Chuck, I have a much smaller piece than using the whole bar. I know the rest of the bar is in my shop. Looked for it a couple times yesterday and one more time today. Its probably got a coat of rust camo on it now.
 
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