how many steel types

[Andrew Garrett]

My duty gun is a SIG P320 firing .357SIG. Imagine .357Mag ballistics and getting 14 rounds of it!

My daily carry is a 4" Taurus Tracker 5 shot .44Mag.

I like a big boom.

As for blade steel: there's plenty to choose from. I just try to advise new makers to pick something affordable and master it. If you get on the 'Next Best Steel' train, you'll never get off of it.
I agree that steel choice is important to marketing and selling, especially in the law enforcement/emergency services community that I work with. That's why I work with as many as I do. In the end, if after I've made my appeal for a steel I'm familiar with, they still want something exotic, I do my homework and learn what I need to know. The client gets what they want.

[jimmontg]

I reload Goater and a 2" barrel is too short for the powder in a full load magnum or even a .38 special. But Bullseye powder (fastest burning powder) and a lighter bullet will give noticeably enhanced performance. Lots of trouble, well so is amping up D2 to it's best performance as well. Tweaking to max pressure for the gun and load.

Using the firearm analogy a .38 special in a 4" barrel is better and a .357 in a 6" barrel is even better still. Simply means without going to extra tests and measures S30V is like a .357 in a 6" barrel without trying while everything else is in the 2" barrel. My son says his 2" barrel with a .38+P load kicks more than my 6" barrel with a full magnum factory load.

[jimmontg]

BTW, my guns have never seen a factory load. My personal carry used to be a .44 mag 5 1/2" barrel Redhawk. I hunted bear with that bugger and killed them too. 300 grain Barnes bullet does the trick with W296. Even with Pachmayr grips that one hurt. Of course it had Millett sights.

That's the diff between the "super" steels and otherwise. Analogy still going and we're all bragging about our firearms.LOL

[Andrew Garrett]

I think I'm getting more primitive.

I just ordered and received a massive piece of 1075 for several upcoming projects.

I'm also looking for a Walker Colt cap and ball revolver for my EDC.

I must have a fever.

[jimmontg]

My brother has a Colt Walker.44. It actually has the power of a .357 with a 125 grain bullet. Will kill a deer if close enough.

[jimmontg]

Read that in a Gun Mag back in the 80s Mr. Garrett.

It's OK I'm relegated to forging at the college or sending out. Like forging, have gotten some really good results from it.

[WNC Goater]

I'm stup## and know nothing of ballistics. Nor reloading since I have several rifles that have never fired a factory load. Also load .40 for a Glock and .38 but have done no scientific tests. I have a great load for 7mm-08 with a 150 gr. Nosler Partition and 44.5 grains of IMR 4350, and a pretty good .25-06 load with a 100 gr. Hornady Interlock. They'll flat out punch cardboard without dulling but I haven't batoned through wood nor broken them to check the grain.

A one turn tomahawk throw can take some practice though. Working on tomahawks looking at that new super steel number XXX. Facebook can get a bit irritating.


I like Andy's suggestion of a new EDC piece though I'd prefer an 1851 Navy cap & ball revolver. Maybe I could get one of those doohickies chambered for a 300 Win Mag rifle round and make myself a cool leg holster.

I kill NC moose with a .22LR though. Whitetails, meh, mild steel from Lowes is all you need.

Apologies to the OP.
Andy has a fever, I have a disorder...

I keep telling my wife I need an airplane.

[Andrew Garrett]

I need to do more work with 0-1. I only ever made one knife with it that I can recall, but dang, is it a good performer!

[mr.HC]

No apologies needed Goater, I enjoy gun talk as much as the next guy.

Carl

[Andrew Garrett]

You guys need to check out culverart.com.
Steve Culver MS, is a retired gunsmith. His cut-n-shoots are fantastic if you like guns and knives together!