What steel for a first knife.

[alexkuzn]

I am practicing on wooden bars and feel it's about time to switch to steel.
Since I have 1"x42" grinder I am going to make a smaller (3"-4" blade) knife
What whould be a good steel for it? I need something cheap, easy to work with and cheap to heat treat. Know any good source of this steel?

All suggestions are appriciated.

Thanks,
Alex

[JUNGIANEINSTEIN]

I have used O-1 tool steel for mine so far as it is relatively inexpensive and can be accquired a Texas knifemakers supply/koval knives/ k&g supply/ alpha knife supply...etc and can be heat treated at home for little investment, just a coffee or paint can and some inswool and satanite with a couple of mapp torches and some used motor oil/new motor oil/ vegetable oil/ whatever for quenchant. Just heat to non-magnetic and quench in oil then temper in oven at 400 for 1 hour.

[Go4it]

My first knife was made from O-1 steel. I don't think I appreciated what a good steel it was at the time. I made the mistake of thinking, because it was so forgiving to the new newbie, that is must not be that good. I know now, that 0-1 is an excellent choice for knife steel for beginner and experienced alike.

I guess that means I would recommend 0-1 as well.

[Todd Robbins]

Alex

Check out the O-1 Urban Myth thread over in Ed Caffrey's Workshop forum. It has some good info on this subject. For simple carbon steels that your going to heat treat yourself, I also think O-1 would be a good choice. For stainless, 440C, ATS34, or 154CM
are a good place to start.

Todd

[AwP]

I also think O1 is great, but for some other options you can try 10xx steels or 5160 too, those are also good steels without difficult complications.