Blacksmithing
and Cutlery
by Gérard HEUTTE
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Steels used for cutlery
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Many steels are available on the market. The
first work of the cutler will be to choose one of them! But do not
take one randomly. You need combine the required qualities
of the steel and the availability...
Here are some elements to make this choice.
Description of a steel
At the time of the purchase of a steel, it is
necessary to get information to allow working it correctly.
It is only with these physical data that you will be able
to harden it correctly and make the right heat treatments.
This information is at least:
- Chemical composition
- Temperature of forging
- Temperature (and if possible methods) for annealing
- Temperature and medium for hardening
- Hardness after hardening
- Curve for the tempering (i.e. hardness according to the
temperature)
Steels for cutlery
The following table presents some steels among the most current.
Chemical composition is provided in percentage of mass.
Classical
Designation |
US
Designation |
Numerical
Designation |
C |
Cr |
Mn |
Mo |
Ni |
Si |
V |
W |
Comment |
| XC48 |
±1045 |
- |
0.48 |
- |
0.55 |
- |
- |
0.25 |
- |
- |
Non-allied steel. A bit light in hardness. |
| XC75 |
±1078 |
- |
0.75 |
- |
0.55 |
- |
- |
0.25 |
- |
- |
Non-allied steel. |
| XC100 |
±1095 |
- |
1.00 |
- |
0.55 |
- |
- |
0.25 |
- |
- |
Non-allied steel. Hard. |
| XC130 |
- |
- |
1.30 |
- |
0.55 |
- |
- |
0.25 |
- |
- |
Non-allied steel. Very hard. |
| 135C3 |
- |
- |
1.35 |
- |
0.55 |
- |
- |
0.25 |
- |
- |
Equivalent XC130, but better hardenability. |
| 90MCV8 |
O2 |
1.2842 |
0.90 |
0.40 |
2.00 |
- |
- |
- |
0.10 |
- |
Tool steel. |
| 100C6 |
52100 = L3 |
- |
1.00 |
1.50 |
0.35 |
- |
- |
0.25 |
- |
- |
Bearing steel. |
| 55S7 |
- |
- |
0.55 |
- |
0.60 |
- |
- |
1.80 |
- |
- |
Spring steel. |
| 15N20 |
- |
- |
0.75 |
- |
0.4 |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
Often used for damascus. |
| Z100CDV5.1 |
A2 |
1.2363 |
1.00 |
5.00 |
- |
1.10 |
- |
- |
0.20 |
- |
Strong impact strength |
| 100MCW4 |
O1 |
1.2510 |
1.00 |
0.60 |
1.10 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0.60 |
Excellent wear resistance. |
| Z155CDV12.1 |
D2 |
1.2379 |
1.55 |
12.00 |
- |
1.00 |
- |
- |
1.00 |
- |
Corrosion resistant steel. |
Some indications for your choice...
Some advices to direct you:
- Gizmos, small tools, tests: XC48
- Penknives, short blades: XC75, 90MV8
- Average, or large blades if no effort: XC75, 90MV8
- Long Blades, bowies, daggers: XC75, 55S7
- Swords, machete: 55S7
This list is voluntarily limited to some oxydable
steels, not or slightly allied.
Moreover, each cutler often has his preferred steels, that he
can easily get and/or he have learned to know.
Some steels in detail...
XC48
Chemical composition:
- Carbon from 0.45 to 0.51%
- Silicon from 0.15 to 0.35%
- Manganese from 0.4 to 0.7%
Temperature of forging: 850 to 1100°C
Temperature of annealing: 650 to 700°C
Temperature and medium of quenching: 800 to
850°C in water
Hardness after hardening: 58 HRC
Curve for tempering: See opposite.
XC75
Chemical composition:
- Carbon from 0.5 to 0.90%
- Silicon from 0.1 to 0.4%
- Manganese from 0.5 to 0.8%
Temperature of forging: 850 to 1100°C
Temperature of annealing: 700 to 720°C
Temperature and medium of quenching: 780 to
850°C inoil
Hardness after hardening: 62 to 65HRC
Curve for tempering: See opposite.
90MCV8
Chemical composition:
- Carbon from 0.85 to 0.95%
- Silicon from 0.1 to 0.4%
- Manganese from 1.9 to 2.1%
- Chromium from 0.2 to 0.5%
- Vanadium from 0.05 to 0.15%
Temperature of forging: 850 to 1050°C
Temperature of annealing: 680 to 720°C
Temperature and medium of quenching: 800 to
820°C in oil at 80°C
Hardness after hardening: 63 to 65HRC
Curve for tempering: See opposite.
Attention, this steel is delicate to anneal. Annealing in cold vermiculite
leaves it impossible to drill and file
(ideal to damage the tools). It is there that the old files
render service!
Make a slow annealing in the dying fire of forge.. The little rate of chromium
makes him take a light hardening if cooling is not very slow!
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