1045

Description

Now, you might be asking, “What is a low carbon steel that can’t harden enough to be used for knives doing on a knife steel supply website?”

Although there is not enough carbon to harden 1045 to knife requirements for edge retention and durability, it is generally used in knife making for multi-layered Damascus to add shading and reduce carbon across the finished bar because it forges welds to other steels more easily than 1018 (mild) steel.

Commonly combined with 1075, 1084, 1095, W-2 and 15N20 to create billets for both Japanese and multi-bar double-edged European Swords, it is also a suitable for cladding blade steel for a three-layer composite like laminated Japanese kitchen knives. Other uses include pattern weld for tools like hammers or plain as spacers or stacked for handle fittings. When used as spacers in handle work, it can be hot or cold blued for a wonderful contrast to other materials.

1045 is generally used in knife making for multi-layered Damascus to add shading and reduce carbon across the bar.
Commonly used with 1075, 1084, 1095, W-2 and 15N20 to create billets for both Japanese and multi-bar double-edged European Swords.