Are you in the knife-making industry and in search of knife steel that is perfect for the making of unbeatable blades? Then it is the 1084 steel that your eyes are looking for. This knife steel is easy to work with and has an affordable manufacturing cost which is adequate for any knife maker to begin their career. There are more amazing facts that you can get to know about the 1084 steel.
What is 1084 Steel?
The American Iron and Steel Institute is the company that came up with the 1084 steel formula. The steel belongs to the 10xx series which is well known to have high carbon levels in the composition. The 1084 steel is well known for the making of both knives and katanas. The first steel of the series is called 1080 and 1084 steel is the innovative version that was made after several versions and has greater carbon content than 1080 steel.
The steel is infamous for use amongst knife makers who are beginners as the manufacturing process is not costly. Furthermore, the steel doesn’t require special heat treatment and there is no need for the steel to undergo various processes under costly equipment. Along with an efficient knife-making process, the steel is also well known for great edge retention.
1084 steel is widely used for manufacturing regular use knives like EDC and kitchen knives. The steel is adequate for the manufacturing of these knives as it has great resistance to impacts like shock and fracture. For these features, a lot of knife makers also use steel for making machetes and camping knives as well.
The steel surprisingly possesses immense toughness even after having a high hardness which allows you to make swords and katanas as well. Some knife makers use heat treatment for using the steel to decorate blades and bring a Hamon effect.
Chemical Composition:
The 1084 steel is true high carbon steel that does not have chromium in its composition which makes the steel not stainless. There are other components present and we have listed down below to explain these components.
- 0.800-0.930% of Carbon: Increases resistance of the steel towards wear and abrasion. Improves tensile strength and hardness level of the steel.
- 0.60-0.90% of Manganese: Enhances hardenability, tensile strength and wear resistance of the steel.
- 0.050% of Phosphorus: Brings improvement in hardness, machinability and strength of the steel.
- 0.040% of Sulphur: Enhances machinability.
- 0.35% of Silicon: Increases steel strength and hardness level of the steel.
The hardness of the steel:
According to the Rockwell C scale, the maximum hardness rating of 1084 steel can reach up to 60 HRC. Depending on the heat treatment provided to steel the rating can alter. 60 HRC shows that the steel has a good amount of hardness which is because of the presence of high carbon and a slight amount of phosphorus.
Properties of the steel:
- Decent Toughness: Even though it is an inevitable fact that the toughness of the steel is indirectly proportional to the hardness of the steel, 1084 shows an incredible amount of toughness that can alter depending on heat treatments. The toughness of the steel makes it capable enough for heavy-duty performance that includes chopping twigs and branches while camping ensuring that the steel is resistant to breaking, chipping, and deforming.
- Excellent Wear Resistance: As the steel has a great amount of hardness rating it also has great capability of wear resistance on regularity. The wear resistance capability of 1084 is like any other steel version of the 10xx steel series. The great wear resistance of the steel allows it to regain shape easily and even the Hamon effect on the blade does not experience many changes.
- Great Edge Retention: Like wear resistance, edge retention is also correlated with the hardness level of the steel 1084 steel. Because of great edge retention, the steel allows you to use it for the making of hunting and camping knives. The edge of the blade will not lose sharpness very quickly and there will be no hassle of sharpening now and then.
- Poor Rust Resistance: Due to the absence of chromium in the 1084 steel composition it is not stainless and it delivers poor performance in case of rust resistance. Yet, to improve the rust resistance of the 1084 steel knife manufacturers use an anti-corrosion layer on top of the blade. It is important to take proper care of the steel and keep it away from humidity and water for rust prevention by drying the blade after cleaning.
- Ease of Sharpening: 1084 steel is easy to sharpen even though it is known for being high carbon steel with high hardness. The blades made out of steel are capable of gaining razor sharpness and are perfect for use by beginners who are not much experienced in using sharpeners.
Comparing 1084 steel with other knife steel options:
1084 vs 1095
Formula wise both of the steels have high carbon in them. However, 1095 steel has a higher hardness level than 1084 because the steel has much more carbon content than 1084. 1095 steel also beats 1084 in terms of wear resistance and edge retention. But 1095 steel is difficult to work with which increases expense.
1080 vs 1084
1084 steel is a better-innovated version of 1080 steel. The 1084 steel consists of high carbon content compared to 1080. This makes 1084 better in terms of edge retention and wears resistance compared to 1080 steel. As the chemical compositions of both the steels are similar they deliver almost the same performance level.
So, is 1084 a Good Knife Steel?
Yes, 1084 is good steel that you can use for knife making and also if you are a beginner. The knife steel has a great hardness which allows it to take on impact and hold the edge for a long time. The 1084 steel can be used for the manufacturing of both EDC knives and outdoor knives. Knives made out of 1084 steel will require proper care to prevent rust.