Originally Posted by
Mike Blue
5160 will meet the hardness criteria. Where that steel excels is in toughness. That explains it's strong use in spring applications. The only way to know for sure is make a razor out of it and shave with it. The biggest problem I have with spring steels is that you can't guarantee that old auto/truck springs are the steel you think it is. Given time and tools, making a razor and testing it will tell you a lot.
It's really easier, potentially a lot less heartbreak, to buy a bar of known steel and keep things simple.