Thread: Framebacks -- harder steel ?

Not really. The edge part of a frameback is as thin as the edge on a regaulr razor.
Sure, the spine part of the blade may be harder, but that is of no consequence.
The spine itself is often softer, as it is not (or at least not usually) quenched.

I thought that the makers might have used harder steel for the blade -- sounds like the Japanese might do that, but Western makers don't.

Thanks everyone.

. Charles

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

I thought that the makers might have used harder steel for the blade -- sounds like the Japanese might do that, but Western makers don't.

Thanks everyone.

. Charles

It's the other way around: Japanese smiths typically use softer steel, or even plain Iron for the spine and the tang.
Hard steel was a scarce resource in Japan, and fairly labor intensive to produce. So they used it as sparingly as possible.
In the west, it seems that smiths just made the entire piece from quality steel, including the parts that do not really need it (such as the spine, tang, etc)