Steve,
Can you suggest a supplier of 1/2 and 5/8 thick ATS34 or 440C for the making of integral knives?

I am ot aware fo an outlet, other than to suggest that you call Crucible or Admiral. Any other ideas?
Ricardo Velarde gets BG-42 from somewhere, for all his integrals. Seems like he was getting some 440-C when we talked in Solvang. Maybe he can help.....

I've always used RWL-34 from some thick pieces I picked up overseas.

Sheffields has some listed in the catalog I downloaded from their site. It is 440C and the size is 5/8" X 1.50" X 18" and the part # is HR15. They also have 36" and 72" bars this size. The price for HR15=$35.00 and the 36" PN#HR15M= $68.00 and the 72" PN#HR15L= $134.00and their website is http://www.sheffieldsupply.com and the catalog is downloadable and FREE.

Thanks for the information guys. I did find some 440c locally and will check out Sheffield Supply.

Thanks for the help, Gilbert. I didn't even think to check out the regular suppliers. Shoudl have made that my first stop! Thanks again.

Just glad to help out. I hope to post some knife photos soon. I am probably better at locating stuff than knifemaking but I prefer knifemaking. I hope to make knives at least half as good as yours Steve and Mr. Loveless too.

Thanks. We'd love to see some photos.

For any ATS-34 you have to go directly to Hitachi America and special order the metal. They never have anything like this in stock, it is made when the order comes in.
They have a 500 lbs minimum.
With BG-42 you have to buy the billet, I think it is 600 lbs (aprox., $18.00 to $20.00 pr/Lbs). You have to send it out to get it rolled to the specifications you want. It takes about five months to get it.
The easiest is to buy a small piece of 440-c and start from there.
Good luck.
Ricardo Velarde

This might not be what your looking for but Crucible will sell 1" plate S30V for an order. If you have the mill you could bring it down to 5/8" but than still your stuck with working S30V :eek: . They don't do anything thicker than 1/4" on 154 CM.

Jim