Types of carbon steel

[golok]

I have heard on a regular basis the mentioning of various types of carbon steel.

For example, the 1075, 1095, 51600, 52100. To the uninitiated (someone like me), these are just numbers. I really don't know what they mean.

My guess is each type consists of certain properties which would be good for certain types of knives made for specified purposes.

Am I right in saying this?

Perhaps the knifemakers who know their carbon steels are in a better position to shed some light on this subject.

 

[Mike Hull]

This might help a little, till someone that has a better way with words can jump in here.
http://www.admiralsteel.com/products/blades.html

http://www.cancom.net/~hnilica/metals.html#metal2

 

[Jason Arnold]

Many steels like the ones you mentioned, Golok, give a rough designation according to their numbers. Not all steels, but many resemble some part of their intended purpose, via numerical classification. In fact there is a massive collection of numbers that separate steels into classes.

1075 for example, is part of the "10 series or 10xx series". 10, is reserved for carbon steels only. When you add two numbers, like 75, you are adding the approximate carbon percentage. 1075 = approx. .75 carbon. Make sense? Other steels, like 5160 do the same, except 51 is a designation representing a class of chromium steel. 52100 equals 1.00% carbon and belongs to the 521 chromium class. Others designate heat treatment style or intended purpose, by the first letter. For example 01 = oil hardening; A2 = air hardening; S7 = shock resisting. Others become more obscure, S30V = stainless, wear resistance rating/approx V content and vanadium inside it.

There are far more classes than I can put down here for you, but now you probably get the idea. One thing to know, outside of simpler steels there are no hard and fast rules. Oh and lastly, these are AISI and SAE classification.

Hope that helps!

 

[Ed Caffrey]

Making sense of all the numbers and letters can be confusing........I have a page on my site that I designed to help relieve some of that confusion. http://www.caffreyknives.net/steelid.htm
It will give you information on what most of the numbers and letters mean.

 

[primos]

I have three related articles on my website as well that should help make some sense of all this for you.

Effects of Alloying Elements in Steel
Steel Classification
Composition of Knife Steels

 

[Daniel Koster]

I was just about to post a link to your articles, Terry.

Very well done and easy to follow.



Best of luck in your research, golok.

Dan

 

[golok]

I just had a look at Terry's site. Very good. Dan is right.
Easy to follow and informative.