|
Post by nirathakthedestroyer on Mar 11, 2015 3:01:46 GMT
Hey guys,
I was talking to some SCA members a while back, and they said that stainless steel blades can be just as functional as carbon ones, if made correctly.
My question is specifically for daggers (which we can assume to be less than 12 inches): is there anywhere where I can obtain a quality, medieval, historically accurate, stainless steel dagger? I am interested, because having to oil a dagger all the time doesn't seem very appealing to me. I already have two carbon swords, and as my collection expands, I don't want to be oiling daggers as well.
On another note, the SCA makes their rapier swords out of special stainless steel, because it is more flexible and they said that it won't splinter like carbon steel does. I thought that carbon was better because it is more flexible and less brittle than stainless? Is it possible that both can be used, if manufactured correctly?
Thanks guys,
-Nirathak
|
|
|
Post by DigsFossils-n-Knives on Mar 11, 2015 3:14:09 GMT
The thought that stainless steel does not make a good short sword or long knife is out dated. There are a few stainless steels that when properly heat treated are as good or better than common tool steels. And there are a few tool steels that are very good at rust resistance too if you don't want to use a stainless steel. Just to name a few: 440C, AEB-L, 154cm, VG10 (very similar to 440C), S30V, M390 and elmax.
And all steels including stainless are "carbon steels". The 440C that I use has more carbon than 1095.
|
|
|
Post by Timo Nieminen on Mar 11, 2015 4:03:22 GMT
I don't know of any historically accurate Medieval stainless daggers, if you're fussy about "accurate". Using stainless is about as accurate as using plastic, or zinc-aluminium alloy. So a lot of the stainless ones out there have plastic grips, zinc-aluminium alloy guards/pommels etc. And often inaccurate blade grinds. Just search for "stainless medieval dagger" on ebay, Amazon, or just www to find lots. Pick the most accurate one you like. Just be aware that many will not be really functional. The people who want to make historically accurate functional daggers will typically use carbon steels; the people who make ornaments or costume pieces are more likely to use stainless. (People do make good functional stainless daggers, but the ones that come to mind, e.g., the F. semprini Sticking Knife, are not Medieval.) E.g., www.amazon.com/SZCO-Supplies-203315-Bollock-Dagger/dp/B007XP300M/ (don't know how functional this is) Note that stainless steel can still rust. It's corrosion-resistant, not corrosion-proof. The SCA doesn't make rapier swords. Most of the rapier blades used in the SCA aren't stainless. There's nothing magic about 12". Stainless, done right, can work for full-length swords. ("Carbon steel" can be jargon for steel where the only important alloying element is carbon, and thus excludes alloy steels and stainless steels. Other people use it with looser meaning.)
|
|