Thread: carbon vs. stainless

Is there any way to tell (without complicated equipment) a stainless from a carbon blade? I've picked up a few obscure blades and would like to know prior to honing. Thanks.

if it's a stainless razor, they say INOX or something like that. they will always mention it since vintage stainless steel was a big deal.

Test it with a magnet.

Originally Posted by rcsteph

Test it with a magnet.

Stainless steels used for good knives and razors will still be magnetic, it is a very high-carbon stainless alloy.

put a drop of vinegar on the tang, if the metal becomes dark gray then its carbon. Another way of doing it is a drop of onion juice. Smell the spot you applied the juice, if its carbon steel it will have pretty unpleasant smell if it's stainless nothing. Wipe off and rinse with water after that.

Originally Posted by pcb01

Is there any way to tell (without complicated equipment) a stainless from a carbon blade? I've picked up a few obscure blades and would like to know prior to honing. Thanks.

I was going to say soak it in salt water or vinegar for a while, but tongue in cheek does not show well in anything typed; then again stainless is only that, stain-less so that soak may not be an absolute test. The earlier comment is right about there being pride in producing something that would resist corrosion, so the shank of a stain-less steel razor would say stainless, friodur, inox, or something similar - perhaps you will have to translate from the language of the country where the razor was made.