I picked up a bunch of 1/4" stainless steel plate from work a few months back. Have no idea what alloy it is but did use it for a guard on one knife and it worked fine. Just wondering what makes 416 and 304 the only stainless steels that are offered in knife cataloges? Is it because of the workability? Ray

Well Ray, that is why I use it. I can get any type of stainless I might want from a local supplier, but I normally use 416. It works easily for stainless and polishes out very well. I have a big bar of 304 at home and haven't used any of it yet. Maybe whe I run out of 416 I'll give it a try.
Mike

I have worked abit with 304 and it is not all that great....I use it for pins though and that is ok...When I make bolsters I ussually use bladesteel.

Thanks for your comments! Its been years since I've used 416 but can't remember what it was like to work. The stainless I got from work was used to hold down some AC units. What ever it is I'm sure it will last my life time and the price was right. FREE!!! Ray

ya....free is hard to beat what ever it is!

we use 304 and 416, and for the most part thier fairly similair. however when it comes to going through the drill bits i find the 416 is the steel to use. here is hoping that my 416 never runs out. by the way i have always used 304 pins, but this is troublesome when making nested pins so if anyboody knows where i can get 416 pin cheap let me know.

Dave,
I don't know what size pins you are looking for, but you can get 416 in 3/16ths dia from online metals for about $1.50 a foot. Sure wish they had it in smaller sizes.
Mike

Mike, you can get it in smaller sizes from K&G for about the same price.