Looking for history of 5160 spring steel

Ian · 1st March 2020, 04:41 PM

Will,

I think the main attractions of 5160 are that it is a readily available, durable steel that can be hardened to take a keen edge, and that it is a type of spring steel that can be bent and it will return to its original state (up to a certain limit of course). The small amount of chromium in the alloy seems important in that respect.

The edged weapons and tools in many developing countries are still largely forged by locals from materials on hand, which is why scrap leaf springs are sought out. 5160 does not need to be folded or have an inserted edge because it has desired properties of toughness, edge retention, and springiness without being combined with other metals. For this reason, I know from personal experience that scrap springs have been widely used in the Philippines, Mexico, and Thailand. Interesting to learn from marius that Nepalese kukhri are also made from the same material.

Ian

mariusgmioc · 1st March 2020, 05:57 PM

Well Ian... yes and no.

While some smiths may use it for its availability, it definitely does not explain why big, major, modern companies use it. Hanwei for example has easy access to other high alloyed steels.

Its exceptional mechanical properties that makes it an almost ideal steel for swords and other bigger blades. From all I know, it has only two minuses:
1. it is rather sensitive to rusting and,
2. it is somehow harder to be worked.

1st March 2020, 04:41 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Will, I think the main attractions of 5160 are that it is a readily available, durable steel that can be hardened to take a keen edge, and that it is a type of spring steel that can be bent and it will return to its original state (up to a certain limit of course). The small amount of chromium in the alloy seems important in that respect. The edged weapons and tools in many developing countries are still largely forged by locals from materials on hand, which is why scrap leaf springs are sought out. 5160 does not need to be folded or have an inserted edge because it has desired properties of toughness, edge retention, and springiness without being combined with other metals. For this reason, I know from personal experience that scrap springs have been widely used in the Philippines, Mexico, and Thailand. Interesting to learn from marius that Nepalese kukhri are also made from the same material. Ian Last edited by Ian; 1st March 2020 at 04:58 PM.

1st March 2020, 05:57 PM	#2
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	Well Ian... yes and no. While some smiths may use it for its availability, it definitely does not explain why big, major, modern companies use it. Hanwei for example has easy access to other high alloyed steels. Its exceptional mechanical properties that makes it an almost ideal steel for swords and other bigger blades. From all I know, it has only two minuses: 1. it is rather sensitive to rusting and, 2. it is somehow harder to be worked.