Thread: High Carbon and Stainless Forged Together

Now here is something I think one doesn't see every day.

I forged a high carbon core to a stainless outer jacket. The thought here being that I'm giving the piece the best of both worlds. The protection of stainless along the spine, but a quality high carbon edge, so that the razor will do its job properly!

It's a half hollow, cause I didn't want to grind away all of that stainless, and I like how it looks part way down the blade.

All in all, I'm happy with the end result here. I just love that stripe of high carbon running down the back of the spine. Makes it look all fancy, to my eye.

Finished in cocobolo, with a stainless wedge, cut form the same billet as the stainless that went into the blade. Traditionally pinned in brass.

Oh! and quick request - if any of you has ever seen a another stainless and high carbon blade before, could you post a pic of it, or a link to it, and any/all info you have on it? I'm curious if there are any other smiths out there doing this kind of forge work.

Here you can see the delineation between the high carbon and stainless perfectly. I'm just gonna say how proud of myself I am for keeping that line pretty darn straight!


Closeup artsy shot!


The other side.


I just love how that spine looks...


From another angle....


With a 'lil bit of monkey tail at the end!

Interesting and looks good. Have to say that I have not had an all stainless steel straight razor blade who's edge would not do it's job properly.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Interesting and looks good. Have to say that I have not had an all stainless steel straight razor blade who's edge would not do it's job properly.

Bob

Agreed! I have never had a quality stainless straight razor. So I knew I wanted to keep the high carbon for the edge. Ended up working out well! The contrast between the two metals ended up being an added benefit for the finished piece.

You seem to have misunderstood Bob's post.

Originally Posted by Utopian

You seem to have misunderstood Bob's post.

Ahh. A case of the double negative?

Originally Posted by JohnGlueck

Ahh. A case of the double negative?

I have an English friend who when visiting would drive waitresses nuts by answering "I wouldn't say no" when asked if he wanted a coffee.

Bon

This is really cool. I've been thinking the same thing lately, about a razor with a carbon steel blade and a stainless steel tang. This way guys who love the feel of carbon steel can also have the stain resistance of stainless where a straight razor tends to be difficult to keep clean, at the pivot between the scales. I always worry that I'm not going to get the water out and rust will set in there. Maybe it would be worth trying to make a straight that is half and half, blade carbon and tang stainless. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by ninjack

This is really cool. I've been thinking the same thing lately, about a razor with a carbon steel blade and a stainless steel tang. This way guys who love the feel of carbon steel can also have the stain resistance of stainless where a straight razor tends to be difficult to keep clean, at the pivot between the scales. I always worry that I'm not going to get the water out and rust will set in there. Maybe it would be worth trying to make a straight that is half and half, blade carbon and tang stainless. Just a thought.

Now that's an interesting thought, and an challenge for a forge weld. Hmmmm.... I think I'm going to have to give that a shot!

Originally Posted by JohnGlueck

Now that's an interesting thought, and an challenge for a forge weld. Hmmmm.... I think I'm going to have to give that a shot!

If you do, make sure you post some pictures. Good luck!

Originally Posted by ninjack

If you do, make sure you post some pictures. Good luck!

That I shall do. I think that would make for an interesting looking blade...