Materials for knife making
Blade steel
Steel is a solid solution of carbon in iron. Thanks to carbon, the metal acquires specific properties that determine the possibilities of its use. The amount of carbon in steel ranges from 0.002 to 2.14% by weight.
Further alloying elements are added to the steel to improve its properties. There are a number of them, the most common being Cr, Ni, Mo and V. Using common metallurgical processes, the solubility limit of carbon and other alloying elements in iron is limited. Adding a larger amount of alloys leads to the formation of inhomogeneities with a negative effect on the properties of the material.
Chromium, which has a fundamental effect on the corrosion resistance of steel, is of particular importance.
Currently, there are special procedures (powder metallurgy) by means of which it is possible to increase the amount of alloying elements above the natural limit and thereby further improve the properties of the steel.
There are many types of steel suitable for making knives, and new ones with better properties are constantly appearing. However, it is still true that the basic properties of steel compete with each other in terms of applicability to a knife blade. They are corrosion resistance, toughness, grindability and edge resistance.
The following classes of steel are used for cutlery purposes:
- Carbon steels
- Tool steels
- Corrosion-resistant steels
The knife’s properties are not only influenced by the input material. Heat treatment is important, which only gives the blade the necessary quality. There is no ideal knife steel for all purposes. It is always necessary to consider what the tool will be used for, which properties are important, and choose the steel and heat treatment method accordingly.
Materials for handles
The material of the handle determines not only the appearance of the knife, but also how the knife will be held in the hand and its resistance to weather conditions.
Traditional materials include wood, antler, horn and bone. Natural leather is also used. Their common disadvantage is lower resistance than synthetic materials. In my opinion, however, it wins in terms of aesthetics. But it’s a matter of taste.
The resistance of natural materials can be increased by means of stabilization, i.e. impregnation with special resins under vacuum and under pressure. If pigment is added to the stabilizing resin, impressive color effects can be achieved.
Commonly used synthetic materials include micarta, G10, carbon and corian. Casting epoxy is also used.
The handle also includes a guard, bolster, or “pear” (back part of the handle). If they are to have a functional sense, they need to be made of durable metal. From the point of view of workability, brass and bronze are advantageous. In terms of durability, steel or titanium wins.
Different types of materials can be combined on the handle and interesting aesthetic effects can be achieved. However, it is necessary to take into account that the combination of materials with different thermal expansion will lead to the fact that the initially high-quality splicing of the materials will deteriorate a little over time.
Other materials
This includes auxiliary materials for making the knife, which are used to achieve interesting effects on the handle. There are no limits to imagination here, but it is good to keep in mind their workability, durability and availability. And as already said, differences in thermal expansion and willingness to accept moisture, which can affect the quality of the transition between individual materials.
Non-ferrous metals such as brass, copper or bronze in the form of sheets of various thicknesses are popular. It is also possible to use stainless steel or aluminum sheet. Fiber and G10 are suitable as liners for the optical separation of different materials. Combinations of different types of wood, bone, antler and horn are popular.
The combination of materials is a matter of the knife maker’s invention and the customer’s taste. The design of the knife on the mandrel provides more room for invention in combining materials compared to the full-tang.
You can look at some materials on other pages. If you like something, I can use it to make a custom knife for you.