Thread: Bartmaan Manganese Steel.question

Evening Gents,
Finally had my Bartmaan arrive today. So attached are some pix and a question:
1- What is Manganese steel? Frm my chemistry days all i can rem. is that added alloys to steel (Iron+Carbon + special heat treatment= steel). Need correction here or addition

As one of the pix suggests its 'dark grey-ish". I know its not from using (near the end of tang bottom side) as owner kept it in Excellent condition. Perhaps that is how inside is w/o the whole polish.

Damage procuring this one was real hard. And a.t.m. is the most expensive in my set. More than the Dovo mammoth tusk.
Then w/o further delay I present::: Bartmaan 7/8

2-is it sharper than Carbon Steel( when horned)??? Stainless steel???
3- is horning on 4K-8K-15K grit stones easier/harder?
4-retains the edger longer/lesser than Carbon steel...

That is a nice Razor
As to the Manganese

I have no idea, most of that stuff was all marketing not anything really different, I have a Kama stamped Manganese too and other than the blued tang I haven't noted any difference in the shave compared to any other Kama

Manganese is used in the production of Stainless Steel. I don't know if this is an antique but if it is maybe this is what they were calling it before they changed the name to stainless steel.

If you google manganese steel you'll find that it adds a lot of abrasion resistance. From my ironworker days I know it was used in dragline buckets, klinker cooler plates and that sort of thing where abrasion resistance was important. Whether that would have been true of razors I don't know. Like Glen said, probably just marketing like 'silver steel', India steel and what have you. I've got one just like yours + a few other Bartmanns and they are all great shavers.

Edit: Here is a blurb I found on Wikipedia

Mangalloy is made by alloying steel, containing 0.8 to 1.25% carbon, with 11 to 15% manganese.[1] Mangalloy is a unique non-magnetic steel with extreme anti-wear properties. The material is very resistant to abrasion and will achieve up three times its surface hardness during conditions of impact, without any increase in brittleness which is usually associated with hardness.[2] This allows mangalloy to retain its toughness.

Most steels contain 0.15 to 0.8% manganese. High strength alloys often contain 1 to 1.8% manganese.[3] At about 1.5% manganese content, the steel becomes brittle, and this trait increases until about 4 to 5% manganese content is reached. At this point, the steel will pulverize at the strike of a hammer. Further increase in the manganese content will increase both hardness and ductility. At around 10% manganese content the steel will remain in its austenite form at room temperature.[4] Both hardness and ductility reach their highest points around 12%, depending on other alloying agents.[1]

Nice looking razor. Congrats

As far as Manganese materialsengineer dot com had this to say:

Alloying of Steels

Manganese is generally beneficial to surface quality especially in resulfurized steels. Manganese contributes to strength and hardness, but less than carbon. The increase in strength is dependent upon the carbon content. Increasing the manganese content decreases ductility and weldability, but less than carbon. Manganese has a significant effect on the hardenability of steel.

If I had to guess, I would say it was added to aid in the manufacturing of the blade.


Anyone remember Certs made with Retsyn? The purpose of it was lubrication of the machinery and it made a great marketing tool, too.

All carbon steel has manganese and several other metals. They just make a point of calling it manganese steel to make you think it's special.

So nothing special in razor. Bartmaan's are not manufactured anymore? is that the reason it commands high price.::: I know i bring it back to price...lame shallow me. But this could have been entertainment for 3 months with hott stuff-s of summer =D . Good thing dont have to answer to anyone regarding this; was it work i be fired right now LOL...for doing bad investment.

amazing, some of you new guys make me smile ... You spend good money on a razor that you have no real clue what you are even buying...

Bartman razors are a highly regarded brand and known to be very good shavers, that is why they command a high price and that price goes up the better shape they are in...The price is even higher as the size increases as like many things in life size does matter

It is the word Manganese that is not special, they stuck all kinds of words on these old gals most of which were just advertising, and back then the advertising was not much regulated at all...

Some of what you see

Damascus
India
Crucible
Silver
Magnetic
Electric
Ice Hardened
Frozen Temper
Self Honing
Never Hone
Easy hone
Barber's Use Only
Heavy Beard Special
Fine Grain
and many many more...

As you can see this gets to be more and more fun,

But the Bartman should be a great shaver for you..