|quoted:

Great to hear from you, Shawn!

No - I have encountered no alloy banding that I know of. Everything I witness is differing strata of migration.

The reason I quit using 416 was because of the added sulfur, which makes it machinable. On two occasions when I was forging down large round stock for fittings, I moved the material too far too fast and got hot-short cracks. The steel literally came apart. And when we consider it for a moment - it's supposed to! That's why it has the sulfur.

In an effort to stack the deck in my favor while making San-mai, I quit using 416 of any kind. Even 303 is the machine grade austenitic stainless and I would not use it for the same reason.

Thanks Karl

I have encountered the same thing in 416 but it was 2 inch round bar that i really got stuck into with the press. Came apart like wet tissue paper, I really try to do all the drawing with slightly crowned dies in the hammer now with the stainless and it hasn't happened again but its a good point. Right off to call the supplier for some 410 then <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> Any hints on how to delete completely useless posts?

Cheers

S

|quoted:

Any hints on how to delete completely useless posts?

Cheers

S

You just gotta know the right people!!

This is the Bowie I was trying to post, let's see if it works this time...

If not you know the drill Karl! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> Thanks for cleaning up that mess buddy.

Beautiful example of our discussion.

That's beautiful San Mai Shawn! In fact, the whole knife is wonderful. Thanks for sharing it.

Chris

Forgive my ignorance, but could you also use a mild steel for the sides instead of Stainless? Besides the dramatic contrast when etched is there any other advantage to using stainless instead of a low carbon/mild steel?

Respectfully,

Frank B

|quoted:

That's beautiful San Mai Shawn! In fact, the whole knife is wonderful. Thanks for sharing it.

Chris

Thanks mate, I really like this design I've done a few of them now but i think this one is me favourite so far.

|quoted:

Forgive my ignorance, but could you also use a mild steel for the sides instead of Stainless? Besides the dramatic contrast when etched is there any other advantage to using stainless instead of a low carbon/mild steel?

Respectfully,

Frank B

Hello Frank, nothing to forgive buddy! Many people do use mild steel or a form of it. Wrought Iron is another possibility. There have been countless Scandinavian knives, think Pukkos, built like this and continue to be. A great French knife maker who's name escapes me at the moment closes angle iron around a French W2 core and welds it in to some fantastic Pukkos. The Stainless looks awesome so I use it. It also provides some corrosion resistance as a portion of the blade is by definition Stainless steel. But, the edge which is the important bit is still liable to corrosion so I don't personally see this as a reason to do it. Some commercially made Japanese laminates have a jacket of 15 layers of mild steel and pure nickel and other varieties on a theme. So to answer your question... yes <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

Cheers S

|quoted:

Hello Frank, nothing to forgive buddy! Many people do use mild steel or a form of it. Wrought Iron is another possibility. There have been countless Scandinavian knives, think Pukkos, built like this and continue to be. A great French knife maker who's name escapes me at the moment closes angle iron around a French W2 core and welds it in to some fantastic Pukkos. The Stainless looks awesome so I use it. It also provides some corrosion resistance as a portion of the blade is by definition Stainless steel. But, the edge which is the important bit is still liable to corrosion so I don't personally see this as a reason to do it. Some commercially made Japanese laminates have a jacket of 15 layers of mild steel and pure nickel and other varieties on a theme. So to answer your question... yes <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

Cheers S

Thanks for the info Shawn!