Thread: Silversteel and 01 Tool Steel

Koraat advertise their razors as being made from silver steel - 62hrc, or bearing steel - 61-62hrc, PRC and Hart and Nate etc all use 01 62hrc as far as I can see. What is the main difference between them?

Silver steel has long been the name for a high tool steel in the British Isles. Historically it was made in Sheffield.
Trade names now, I would suppose preying upon the legend of the first really good steel for cutlery.
YOMV
~Richard

As far as the end user goes, there will be little difference.
It will mater to the smith as there will be subtleties in getting the best heat treatment, each will use what he feels is best and/or is most comfortable with.

FYI: The silver steel used is L2 equivalent, whilst the bearing steel used is 5210 equivalent

Bohler Uddeholm in Australia has O1 & Silver Steel as the same material "ASSAB-O1" on the same heat treat & spec sheets

http://www.buau.com.au/media/TB_GS_SS.pdf

It doesn't really give any more information that you get above, but here is another comparison:"Silver Steel" and "Tool Steel"...what's the difference? | The Hobby-Machinist - The FRIENDLY Machinist Forum

On another note- I have razors in both and they hone and shave in a similar way in my use.

Originally Posted by TomP30

Koraat advertise their razors as being made from silver steel - 62hrc, or bearing steel - 61-62hrc, PRC and Hart and Nate etc all use 01 62hrc as far as I can see. What is the main difference between them?

Hi!

all of those steels are toolsteels or in the case of the 1.3505 (5210) it is the bearing steel version of the toolsteel 1.2067. The bearing quality has the same chemical composition except lower quantities of sulfur and phorsphor and it is better heattreated and cleaned while steelproduction.
We have decided to use 1.2210 ( which is called silversteel because it is traded only in blank ground rods which have a silver shine ;-) ) and 1.3505 because both are very fine grained, have a good thoughness at a hardness range from 61-63hrc, take a good polish and can be sharpened easily. O1 is a bit less wear resistant, but is also a fine grained steel with good thoughness and takes a good polish. The reason I personaly don´t use it for our blanks is mainly because it is alloyed with about 2% Manganese. And Manganese is a chemicaly very ignoble metall, resulting in a higher proneness for dark marks on the blade while sharpening or in contact with some soaps, compared to 1.2210 and 1.3505.
But all of these steels will make good razors and the differences (if the heat treating is properly done) will be rather small and not noticable for most of the customers.
I hope that helps you.

best regards,
Ulrik