Thread: What's the history of SR metallurgy over the past 200 years?

I was sent here from r/wicked_edge. I hone SR's and I'm interested in the history of their steel. Specifically, what's changed in the way SR manufactures formulate and treat their metal? ie carbon content, tempering, etc

We have had that question - in a variety of forms and as you pose it - a number of times. It is far too tedious to write it all out afresh each time the question crops up, so I suggest you do a little googling of the archives - general googling of the web doesn't hurt much either, and visiting a library with a good section on steel is very good, but not done much these days.

Only take answers from those who know what they are talking about - mere opinions will not cut the mustard, and lots of people have some very odd ideas regarding steel and the various forms of it used in razors, such as:

double shear steel
cast steel (same as crucible steel);
warranted steel (not a type, just a guarantee that it was good);
acier fondu (same as cast steel, therefore just crucible steel);
silver steel (with real silver, not the bright tool steel it is nowadays);
india steel (from the indian form of steel known as wootz, made in a crucible, thereby the original cast steel as it predates the others which are a re-discovery of it);
silver steel - a form that does not contain silver, marginally harder than ordinary razor steel of the time,
low carbon steel - generic razor steel.

There are many other steels that were used. Some were called 'boutique' steels because they were pretty much small scale in production, like a small shop or boutique. Sheffield became the worlds centre for steel production and the creation of boutique steels.

There was also - supposedly - a particular form of iron that was considered to take and hold such a keen edge that it was used to make razors from. It sounds like heresy, but it happened.

You also need to know the alloys that went into it and the ways of making it - puddling furnace, blast-furnace, bessemer converter, siemens electric arc furnace and many more.

I have only given you a few generalities, so you can imagine the scope of the work that lays ahead of you, and the importance of not being swayed by personal opinions and beliefs but adhering to facts.

Good Luck!

Regards,
Neil

Thanks Neil, this is fascinating, and more than I expected. Looks like I have my work cut out for me...

You are a straight razor user and just found this place, blasphemy I say! Welcome aboard!

Wikipedia can give a star
History_of_steelmaking
Damascus_steel
Wootz_steel
~Richard

Welcome to SRP. Since you're already honing razors one of the coolest aspects, from my point of view, is honing razors from the different eras and observing whether there are differences in the way they respond to the rocks. More often than not we don't really know what the composition of the alloy is, but it is still an interesting aspect of the sport. Great info Neil as usual.

thanks, this link led me down the road i was looking for

I just found a few tidbits. During the early 1900's Sheffield and Solingen factories started using the tool steel recipe now referred to as "silver steel" (see UK specification BS-1407). It has a carbon content of up to 1.0%, while most other manufacturers then, and still are, using 0.6%. Higher carbon content requires lower tempering point and enables a better polish appearance. This is why the lower quality blades have more of a satin appearance. It's interesting to note that one of the only companies who still follow that recipe is Theirs Issard.

Originally Posted by Tallm

I just found a few tidbits. During the early 1900's Sheffield and Solingen factories started using the tool steel recipe now referred to as "silver steel" (see UK specification BS-1407). It has a carbon content of up to 1.0%, while most other manufacturers then, and still are, using 0.6%. Higher carbon content requires lower tempering point and enables a better polish appearance. This is why the lower quality blades have more of a satin appearance. It's interesting to note that one of the only companies who still follow that recipe is Theirs Issard.

TI has been using a newer alloy for a number of years now. I forget the exact designation for it. The Sheffield Silver Steel marque is no longer etched on their blades for some time. I've got both the older Silver Steel and the newer, and one is as good as the other IME, as far as edge holding is concerned. I certainly would never lump TI in with "lower quality" blades, nor many of the other vintage blades that are marked 'Silver Steel.'

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

TI has been using a newer alloy for a number of years now. I forget the exact designation for it. The Sheffield Silver Steel marque is no longer etched on their blades for some time. I've got both the older Silver Steel and the newer, and one is as good as the other IME, as far as edge holding is concerned. I certainly would never lump TI in with "lower quality" blades, nor many of the other vintage blades that are marked 'Silver Steel.'

OK. My current Sheffied blades aren't labeled with any steel name. I'm still leaning how to estimate their age.