Metal guys, help.

[therealnickb]

So I’ve had this almost 5 foot long 1” bar for a long time. It spent quite a few years pounded into the ground holding up an old fence. Absolutely no signs of corrosion. I assume that means quality stainless steel of some kind. There are no markings or stamps. But...

I think I need to make some knives out of it. What say y’all?

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[sonofeugene]

Yes, it's likely SS but you have no idea what alloy it is. Probably lousy for knife blades. 303, 304, and 316 are the most common for rods like that.

If you're going to invest your time and money making knives, start with a known good alloy suitable for knife blades. And get it in a shape closer to the final blade.

[BillyGoatCrawler]

Recycle it and use the money towards something or even some stock more suited. It sat in the ground for years. You won’t miss it?

As said above, prob 304 or 316

[therealnickb]

Thanks. Good info.

And yes, I have no idea what it is. Amazed me that it didn’t corrode after all those years.

[therealnickb]

Thanks again. The rod does not draw a magnet. You guys were spot on.

[Excitable Boy]

Yes, it's likely SS but you have no idea what alloy it is. Probably lousy for knife blades. 303, 304, and 316 are the most common for rods like that.

If you're going to invest your time and money making knives, start with a known good alloy suitable for knife blades. And get it in a shape closer to the final blade.

Sage words here. That was likely crazy expensive for holding up a fence, so there must be more to the story. It was probably not a rod of 154CM. Good blade stainless starting at the 440C needs advanced heat treat (a heat controlled oven) to be worth anything. More exotic stainless alloys may need more specific thermal cycles.

If you just want to take a poke at making a knife, find some 1095, O1 or old car leaf springs. It will be cheap material that can be made into very durable, beautiful and sharp knives with simple tools and heat treat. Using these readily available high carbon steels will give you a good starter steel for cheap. These steels will rust if you look at them without an immediate oil coating after working them. With proper care, they will develop a patina and could last for decades.

I have an expensive electric heat treat oven with digital control and can do the advanced stainless alloys that is cool. I have also done simple carbon steel heat treat in a Ghetto "One Brick" forge when I was starting. It all depends on how committed you are and what you want to accomplish. I AM NOT taking on external heat treat projects at this time.

I will reply where I think I have a little experience that is relevant, but am not a heat treat expert.

[therealnickb]

Didn’t mention the origin. Simple story. I live on a busy street. The bar was in my driveway one morning. Assume it fell off a work truck.

After a big rain some years back, part of a fence began to sag. I pounded the bar into the ground next to the fence. Wha la! No more sag.

So, what to do with it? Gopher killer? Door stop?

[sonofeugene]

Keep it for the next rotten fence post.

[therealnickb]

Keep it for the next rotten fence post.

Bingo! But it was used as a breaker bar.

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Apparently, in the 60's folks used a whole bag of cement for 3' chainlink fence posts. Good thing we had a little rain...

[MongooseV8]

It wont do you any good for a knife since you dont know the alloy. To heat treat and temper it correctly youd have to find out what its made of. If you want to get into knife making O1 is the recommended steel to start with according to the interwebs and youtubes.

[therealnickb]

It wont do you any good for a knife since you dont know the alloy. To heat treat and temper it correctly youd have to find out what its made of. If you want to get into knife making O1 is the recommended steel to start with according to the interwebs and youtubes.

[MongooseV8]

Hey the price was right, you could use it for just about anything lol.

[hermosabeach]

Titanium?

Does it have scratches / galling?

[therealnickb]

Titanium?

Does it have scratches / galling?

It bends pretty easy. Titanium is stiff and brittle right?

[therealnickb]

Hey the price was right, you could use it for just about anything lol.

Yep!