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BLADETRICKS KNIFE MAKING MATERIALS:
BLADETRICKS BLADE MATERIALS:
This is a small list of steels most commonly used to make my Bladetricks knives, karambits, tomahawks and hand tools.
All the steels, titanium, handle materials and glues I use to make my custom knives are carefully selected and purchased from trusted suppliers. My intention is to make the most functional and practical knives at reasonable prices and that will serve their purpose and will last.
O1 tool steel:
O1 tool steel is a classic alloy that has stood as an industry benchmark for decades. As an oil-hardening, non-shrinking steel, it is incredibly predictable and reliable to work with. While it may not be as flashy as some modern alloys, O1 is a true workhorse, exceptionally tough and reliable with the proper heat treatment.
1070 - 1075 spring steel:
1070 - 1075 are reliable, high-carbon spring steels with exceptional yield strength and wear resistance. They are an excellent choice for survival and tactical knives, offering superior toughness compared to 1095 and most stainless steels.
Easy to work with and sharpen, these steels are a practical choice that will take a keen edge without unnecessary effort.
8670 steel:
8670 steel is an extremely tough carbon steel, essentially an improved version of 1070 with additional nickel and chromium. This material is a great choice for knives requiring high toughness, like big choppers and hard-use blades.
Commonly used for large bandsaw blades in the lumber industry, 8670 is a very durable steel that also holds a strong edge. Its properties make it very easy to work with and forgiving in heat treatment, ensuring a consistent and reliable final product.
4340 alloy steel:
4340 is a high-performance alloy steel selected for its exceptional toughness and reliability. While you may be more familiar with the famous 4140 steel, 4340 is a more robust and reliable option for truly demanding applications. Due to its higher nickel content, it possesses enhanced ductility and toughness. This heavy-duty material performs consistently across a wide range of temperatures and is built for highly stressed parts and uncompromising performance, though it is hard to find in thin stock.
14C28N Steel:
14C28N is a well-balanced stainless steel selected for its practical, no-nonsense performance. This material offers a superior blend of toughness, corrosion resistance, and the ability to hold a very fine edge without becoming brittle. It is a pragmatic choice, valued not for flamboyance, but for its consistent and reliable functionality in real-world use. This steel's inherent resistance to stress and hard impacts makes it an ideal foundation for a professional-grade tool.
AEB-L Steel:
Like its companion, AEB-L is a highly capable steel chosen for its well-balanced properties. This material provides an excellent ability to take and hold a very fine edge while maintaining exceptional toughness. It offers a high level of corrosion resistance, freeing the user from the constant maintenance demanded by traditional alloys. AEB-L is a professional-grade steel that works, and works well, providing the same foundation of unwavering toughness and performance as its counterparts.
Ti6Al4V Grade 5 titanium alloy:
Ti6Al4V Grade 5 titanium alloy is widely regarded as the "workhorse" of the titanium world. I choose it for its outstanding properties, which have made it the most frequently used alloy in the aerospace, medical, and high-end sporting goods industries.
This material has a very high tensile strength, which makes it less likely to break under stress, and it is specifically formulated to be resistant to deformation, cracking, and breaking. Additionally, it is approximately 30% lighter than steel and is highly resistant to corrosion in wet, humid, or marine environments.
However, a titanium blade is not a substitute for a traditional steel knife meant for repeated, heavy-duty cutting. It does not hold an edge for an extended period, which is why I do not recommend it for a utility or hard-use knife. A Grade 5 titanium blade excels as a specialized tactical or last-ditch everyday carry (EDC) tool, where its light weight, flexibility, and rust resistance are paramount.
BLADETRICKS HANDLE MATERIALS
Micarta:
Micarta is a laminated product often called the "steel of the plastic industry" for its incredible toughness. I use only industrial-grade canvas Micarta for my handles, as it is the toughest of the laminates and provides the most consistent results.
Its impressive resistance to shock, heat, stress, and corrosive chemicals makes it an ideal choice for high-strength parts. The combination of its durability, resistance to the elements, and grippy texture makes canvas Micarta the best option for my tactical and outdoor knives and tools. Its exposed cotton fibers provide a particularly warm, comfortable, and secure grip, especially when wet.
G10:
G10 is a high-pressure fiberglass laminate composite created by stacking multiple layers of glass cloth soaked in epoxy resin. It is the toughest of the glass fiber laminates, favored for its extremely high strength and dimensional stability.
These properties are maintained under all conditions, making the material highly resistant to moisture, chemicals, and temperature changes. On my knives, G10 handle scales are pinned and epoxied to the handle, then textured to provide an elegant and secure grip.
Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon:
Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN) is a tough, versatile polymer reinforced with glass fiber. It offers a high degree of rigidity, mechanical strength, and hardness, allowing it to withstand high static loads and abuse over long periods.
Although it's a lighter and more flexible material than G10, FRN is a very tough handle material that can take serious abuse. It's an excellent option for users looking for a lighter blade or those on a tighter budget. Due to the properties of nylon, FRN cannot be glued, but I secure it firmly to the tang with rivets, pins, or screws.
Delrin:
Delrin is a high-performance acetal resin known chemically as Polyoxymethylene (POM). This material is selected for its exceptional combination of high tensile strength, stiffness, and hardness. I utilize Delrin for handles that require superior durability and low maintenance. It possesses outstanding resistance to moisture, common solvents, and various chemicals, making it an ideal, no-nonsense choice for tools used in demanding environments like a professional kitchen. Delrin scales are dimensionally stable, highly impact-resistant, and offer a comfortable, reliable grip solution where simplicity and longevity are prioritized over complex textures.
550 Paracord:
550 Paracord is a versatile nylon utility cord originally developed for parachute suspension lines. I use it as a handle material for many of my knives, karambits, and tomahawks due to its lightweight, low-profile footprint and the extremely secure grip it provides. This material is a reliable and practical choice that is a perfect fit for any no-nonsense tactical or outdoor tool.
Epoxy resin:
I use two-component epoxy adhesives to bond handles to my knives due to their high resistance to physical and chemical influences. For this purpose, I rely exclusively on Araldite—a brand that pioneered adhesives for the aeronautical industry.
In my opinion, Araldite is the most reliable epoxy available. It creates a durable, high-strength bond that resists stress, impact, and heat, ensuring a handle that will not fail under demanding conditions. Its long-term stability makes it a core component in the uncompromising quality of every Bladetricks tool.
Aluminium: