Thread: Best steel for making straights?

I want to try my hand at making some razors and maybe knives too. Which carbon steels are best for straights? I want to stay away from stainless for the time being.

Thanks.

I don't make 'em but I've got plenty commercial and custom. I bet the experienced smiths will recommend O1 for quality and user friendliness. Ideal for a beginning maker I think.

to really get the most out of O1 you need to soak at temp and most new makers dont have kilns

it is said to be a starter steel cause you can quench in just about anything and it will get hard

1084 is as simple as it gets to HT and is darn good steel (heat to jsut above non magnetic and quench in fast oil or water then temper At 350 an hour and see how hard it is then make the 2nd temper )

if you are going to send out for HT then jusst make sure the heat treater works with the steel you want to use

Cool, thanks. 1084 sounds right.