How big is the performance difference between 52100 and 5160?

When I first started forging, I started with 1084, L-6, and 1095, then read about 52100 and have been forging it ever since. I get much greater performance from 52100 than anything else I've tried, but I never tried 5160.

I have heard good things about 5160 and forged a hunting sized blade this afternoon to make comparisons with. It is annealing right now so I won't know till tomorow how well it performs. I can tell you right now, it was much easier to forge than 52100.

I would like to get more experianced makers take on the two.

Thanks

Check out the threads on Ed Caffrey's Forum.

51200 seems to be verrrrrry High Performance if properly forged, heat treated and tempered.

Bob Sigmon