What steel???....to many choices.

[NativeArcher]

Hey guys just wanted to throw this out there. Well still being very much a newbie to the knife making experience, Im looking for a little guidance/advice. Im looking to try to build a camp style (about 10") knife with the stock removal method (no forge or anvil yet). Now I did some searching here for ideas on which steel would be a good starter. Ive seen alot of options from carbon 10xx- 51xx, to tool steels a1 w2 l6 o1 d2. Some sites recommended O1 as a common knife making steel, others recommended the carbon. So pretty muchlooking for some advice on one that will make a pretty good knife using the stock removal method (so I would need some flat ground stock). But a steel that also wont break the bank, (D2 is pretty pricy). Well once again thank you all.....matty

[Lin Rhea]

NativeArcher,
                Are you going to heat treat this blade yourself? or send it out? Lin

[NativeArcher]

I havent tried heat treating yet, I sent out my last knife. so it will most likely be sent out. But I will eventually like to learn to do heat trating also...thanks

[ALW]

I'm new at this stuff as well but I keep hearing 1080 or 1084 steel is really easy for a beginner to harden and get good results.  I have a pretty archaic system and have been using O1 steel with decent results.  Do some searches on here and you will find a lot about the different steels that are good for beginners.  And guys like Lin and Karl, and many more can give you some really great advice.  They've helped me out a lot.

Aaron

[Lin Rhea]

I would contact the place that will be heat treating the blade and ask what they are set up for. It probably wont matter, but it might. Any of the steels you mentioned will make a good blade. I have been using some W2 lately that will really perform. 5160 is hard to beat for availability. Lin

[Ragnarok Forge]

5160 or 1080/1084 would be my choice.  Particularly if you plan to start doing your own heat treating.  Simple steels are easy to harden and temper.  If your off your temps a little they still work well enough to make a good knife.

Lin hit it on the head if you plan to send it out find out what they specialize in and use that steel.