How to tell what type of steel?

gerbopyl Member Posts: 129	How to tell what type of steel? Jun 3, 2011 5:42:35 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by gerbopyl on Jun 3, 2011 5:42:35 GMT Is there anything visually that could tell you whether something was stainless or not?

Adrian Jordan
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How to tell what type of steel? Jun 3, 2011 7:14:14 GMT

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Post by Adrian Jordan on Jun 3, 2011 7:14:14 GMT

Not to sound like a smart-ass, but most that I've seen that are stainless have a "stainless steel" stamp. If you are looking to buy, just make sure to research. Look for blades that have at least a 1045 carbon steel. As far as just looking and telling, most stainless steel blades will have a mirrored finish from top to bottom and a wire brushed hamon. Wire brushed hamons are fairly easy to spot, as they tend to be unnaturally even and have minute, and sometimes not so minute, scratch marks along it. Most carbon steel blades that are less than a few thousand bucks have a nice, but not mirror polish, and the polish in the upper portion of the blade will be clearer(semi-mirror) than the lower portion(satin polish) of the blade.

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bleachsword
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How to tell what type of steel? Jun 3, 2011 7:23:21 GMT

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Post by bleachsword on Jun 3, 2011 7:23:21 GMT

Not really but you could do a quick acid/water test to see if it rusts (a small dot of water in an area you can repolish that wont harm the blade when you can keep an eye on it) if not then it is if it does then it is not, granted if left long enough stainless will rust it will just take way longer.

Tho someone may know if it is or is not if you post a name brand/item name or a picture (someone may have it already).

gerbopyl
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How to tell what type of steel? Jun 3, 2011 7:39:59 GMT

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Post by gerbopyl on Jun 3, 2011 7:39:59 GMT

I was at my friends house earlier and noticed a rapier in his closet. I snagged it up and started handling he has no clue where his parents got it. The blade itself is satin polished and seems very solid. I risked some heavier swings with it and everything held tight. No pictures at the moment next time I go over I will try and get a few. Sorry should have been more descriptive to start I was very distracted purchasing some new swords

Lonely Wolf Forge Manufacturers and Vendors Posts: 6,438	How to tell what type of steel? Jun 3, 2011 12:09:53 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on Jun 3, 2011 12:09:53 GMT stainless steel tends to look like the ultra shiny chrome rims gangster folk folk tend to overcompensate with. If it looks like chrome its deff stainless. but just because its not chrome doesn't mean it cant be stainless.
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chrisperoni
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How to tell what type of steel? Jun 3, 2011 12:31:27 GMT

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Post by chrisperoni on Jun 3, 2011 12:31:27 GMT

a.jordan wrote
Not to sound like a smart-ass, but most that I've seen that are stainless have a "stainless steel" stamp. If you are looking to buy, just make sure to research. Look for blades that have at least a 1045 carbon steel. As far as just looking and telling, most stainless steel blades will have a mirrored finish from top to bottom and a wire brushed hamon. Wire brushed hamons are fairly easy to spot, as they tend to be unnaturally even and have minute, and sometimes not so minute, scratch marks along it. Most carbon steel blades that are less than a few thousand bucks have a nice, but not mirror polish, and the polish in the upper portion of the blade will be clearer(semi-mirror) than the lower portion(satin polish) of the blade.

I have Masahiro katanas that are worth less than $100 and they have a miror polish that's as good as any glass mirror in my house, and they're carbon steel. The polish is uniform across the whole blade, except for the wire brushed hamon.
--I'm just sayin'

Is there any way to get the hilt off the blade? - the tang would give you a good indication of the steel. Rat tail or push tang, full tang, any welds, how rough the tang steel is, rust on it... etc.

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14thforsaken
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How to tell what type of steel? Jun 3, 2011 13:03:01 GMT

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Post by 14thforsaken on Jun 3, 2011 13:03:01 GMT

Saito wrote
stainless steel tends to look like the ultra shiny chrome rims gangster folk folk tend to overcompensate with. If it looks like chrome its deff stainless. but just because its not chrome doesn't mean it cant be stainless.

Not always. Del Tin makes their swords from a chrome vandium steel alloy so they look fairly shiny but are still functional blades.

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Elheru Aran
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How to tell what type of steel? Jun 3, 2011 14:07:02 GMT

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Post by Elheru Aran on Jun 3, 2011 14:07:02 GMT

The only really reliable way to test the metal is to knock off a bit and take it to a laboratory. Of course, that entails probably destroying the sword's functionality in the process as they'd need a large enough sample that you'd either have to take out a hefty enough nick of the blade or a chunk of the tang...

The "find a spot, scratch it and drop some water on it" test sounds good enough to me except that I'm not sure how you could differentate between mild and carbon steel that way...

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chuckinohio Senior Forumite Posts: 3,376	How to tell what type of steel? Jun 3, 2011 14:33:09 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by chuckinohio on Jun 3, 2011 14:33:09 GMT Spark test. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_testing Or, for those of you more inclined to experiments www.engineeringtoolbox.com/identification-stainless-steel-d_383.html

gerbopyl Member Posts: 129	How to tell what type of steel? Jun 4, 2011 13:31:58 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by gerbopyl on Jun 4, 2011 13:31:58 GMT Should be heading over there next week going to grab it from it him to get some more information. Thanks for all the help!

mrstabby: Been thinking the same - but the person that set up the page might not be there anymore and old code gets messy when not maintained. Might be a "repair subscriptions, destroy function X, repair X, destroy Y" situation by now - would mean a total overhaul. Nov 18, 2024 7:29:27 GMT

eastman: problems with the forum software are the cause, not a goal to limit the club. There is an error with the software that messes up activities that require the sending of email. Nov 18, 2024 3:57:36 GMT

choseychas: That's what I figured, wasn't sure if it had become a limited club where you have to know someone to get in or what was going on. Nov 18, 2024 2:39:40 GMT

How to tell what type of steel?

Post by gerbopyl on Jun 3, 2011 5:42:35 GMT

Post by Adrian Jordan on Jun 3, 2011 7:14:14 GMT

Post by bleachsword on Jun 3, 2011 7:23:21 GMT

Post by gerbopyl on Jun 3, 2011 7:39:59 GMT

Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on Jun 3, 2011 12:09:53 GMT

Post by chrisperoni on Jun 3, 2011 12:31:27 GMT

Post by 14thforsaken on Jun 3, 2011 13:03:01 GMT

Post by Elheru Aran on Jun 3, 2011 14:07:02 GMT

Post by chuckinohio on Jun 3, 2011 14:33:09 GMT

Post by gerbopyl on Jun 4, 2011 13:31:58 GMT

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