I’ve brought this up before. But I figured I would again seeing how we have quite a selection of suppliers these days! For stock removal guys like myself (and I’ve talked to a number of Canadian makers on Instagram about this) the minimum stock width should be 2”. I purchased 1.5” W2 recently and fine, I am able to make a few bush craft knives out of it... the big difference was I was limited creatively by the width and the steel basically dictated the design. I prefer to dictate the design, if you get my drift, no different than someone who is forging dictates the size and shape. I actually like 3” wide stock for handles that curve down below the cutting edge. But 2” is definitely minimum, especially for the culinarily stock removal makers. Anyway, I hope this is something that will be noted. Also I would like to say, I am not asking to be contacted to see what ‘I,’ need. I am speaking for a number of makers that would like you to stock 2” and wider in an array of steels. Cheers, Griff
Griff I guess it depends on what you are making. Hidden tang knives usually require a lot less steel width than a full tang. Kitchen blades are thinner but on a big knife requires a wider piece of steel, again hidden vs full tang and shape dictate how wide. That is why it is nice to forge a piece of damascus, if you want the handle bent down, a little heat and a hammer blow and you have it, What really ticked me off was when you bought stainless bolster mater 1 1/2 x 1/4 x xxxxx the stuff is rolled in a mill and the edges are thinner than the rest of the bar and you have to grind it flat to fit a bolster on a big knife. Anyway I guess if it was real easy there would be no challenge.
I buy a mix of 1-1/2" and 2". I hate to waste a piece of 2" steel on a smaller knife, so I try to use the stock which best fits the design. For example, a kitchen utility with a 1-1/2" blade makes me cringe to leave a 1/2" strip in the scrap bucket. Same with fillet knives. Depending on the shape and length of steel, I can play with patterns and fit two of the same blades nested on to a 2" piece and leave just enough room for the bandsaw blade to split them down the middle. Takes a little jiggering and sometimes I have to trace the shapes on both sides of the steel and line them up, but doable. In other cases the scrap bucket yields a perfect piece for a small hidden tang or small belt knife. However, clever we are, it sucks to waste anything that costs $40 a foot. Never had the need yet for 3", but some 4" for a cleaver or a Serbian chef's knife might come in handy.
The 2” width minimum I’ve discussed with the other makers of stock-removed culinary chef knives is in regards to the heel width. Of course you’re going to have waste as the cutting edge curves and narrows to the tip...but I agree with them on the starting width. No one is ‘drawing out the heel,’ on stock removal knives...it has to be there to begin with lol! As for the 3” Stock. Both the camp chopper I made my brother-in-law and the last knife I posted have a handle that curve/ drop down. Not only were both handles incredibly comfortable, they proved in testing to be very ergonomic and didn’t cause fatigue in the tasks they were designed for. I want to make more of them, especially the last knife ‘The Apex.’ It was my first sale and the customer / hunter who bought it, used it and loved it. I don’t need much more incentive to make more of them than that! As I said, ‘each to their own,’ and I like wide stock for my designs. Maybe - if you will - call it the luxury of being a hobbyist. I understand that if I am doing a hidden tang I can curve it with less steel, or as Cal suggested heat her up and whack it to where I want it. But for my full tang curved handles I need wide stock.
I like to buy sheets of AEBL in 12 by 24" . Very little waste this way by being able to nest the knives and I can do wide blades. I do still keep bars on hand of varying thicknesses. Some day I'd like to pick up my $800 order of steel that's been sitting on the other side of the boarder since last match.
This type of sized sheet is exactly why, before all this COVID , I thought I’d found the perfect supplier in Alpha Knife Supply. I got a sheet of 6” x 24” A2 in 2019. Now the shipping in 2021 is too much to justify it. It’s also why I said 2” wide should be the minimum...I’d like to by a sheet from Canadian suppliers. Wether you lay it on a piece of paper and fill the whole thing with designs, or do it in cad, it’s a great way to use up every last square cm.
Right on Griff. This is so true. I use a lot of 3" when I can find it, mostly 80crv2. It is currently unavailable in Canada as far as I know. Used to get it from the place in Alberta. Thanks for raising this issue.
I seldom ever go thinner than 2" width myself unless for a very particular blade and only if I can't get two on the sheet. The 12"x24" for me allows the most variety of blade shapes and what I typically pick up for myself. I do plan on an order of Nitro V and S35VN RussM what thickness of 80Crv2
Hi John. Thanks for asking, I usually use 1/8". I like to have a bit on the shelf and was lucky enough to buy 6 feet before it disappeared. I really like the idea of buying a larger piece; it would make for less waste. For myself 10" by 24" would be perfect because of the limitations of my bandsaw. I can cut in 5" from each side. Where do you buy these larger sizes John? This brings up another question but to avoid hijacking this thread I'll start another. Cheers
I've only ordered from Maritime and knifemakers supply. Thanks for the info John. I will check into this.
I run my own little business so shopping at other companies is extremely rare https://canadian-artisan.com/
Hi Griff, I have been trying to expand what MKS carries in 2" stock. Currently Maritime Knife Supply has: 1084 x 1/8 x 2" 1084 x 5/32 x 2 1095 x 1/8 x 2 52100 x 3/16 x 2 80CRV2 x 3/16 x 2 80CRV2 x 1/4 x 2 Nitro V x 3/32 x 2 Nitro V x 3/16 x 2 AEB-L x 3/32 x 2 154-CM x 1/8 x 2 154-CM x 3/32 x 2 440C x 1/8 x 2 And I have more options on the way. Thanks, Lawrence Lake https://maritimeknifesupply.ca/
Thanks for that info Lawrence. I appreciate now having another supplier and realize it's not possible to have all sizes available constantly. Às I said I currently have 6 feet of 3" x 1/8 80crv2 but because it's hard to get I always plan to keep some on the shelf. Also 3" x5/32 and 3"x 3/16 in in either 1084 or 80crv2 is something I don't have but would stock up on if I see it available. Again, thanks Lawrence, I will continue to monitor your website.
Hi Russ, I can add 3" to my next order. How many bars would you need? Thanks, Lawrence Lake https://maritimeknifesupply.ca/
