What is O1 Tool Steel Knife - Is O1 Tool Steel Good for Knives

🥇What is O1 Tool Steel Knife? – Is O1 Tool Steel Good for Knives?

Are you familiar with popular knife tool steels? If so, you’ve probably come across the O1 tool steel. If you’re reading this article on O1 tool steel knives right now, it seems like you’re looking for additional information.

O1 high carbon steel is a popular material used by many custom knife producers to forge knives. It is one of the best tool steel for knives as it provides strength and hardness to a knife. It has strong edge retention, excellent wear resistance, hardness, and toughness.

However; this is insufficient to determine whether it is the proper steel for your knives. To do so, you must first understand its chemical makeup, qualities, and how well it performs in comparison to other rival steel selections. So, let’s dig into these specifics.



What is O1 Tool Steel?

O1 steel is a non-deforming oil-hardening tool steel. It is”non-shrinking” steel that at low temperature can be hardened to a Rockwell Range of C 65. It belongs to the O Category of Steel (O1, O2, O6, and O7). It was introduced in 1905 by Halcomb (now owned by the American-based Crucible firm).

The letter O stands for oil quenching, and the number 1 indicates that it is the forerunner of other O steels in the group.

It is common steel used by both custom and bulk manufacturers. O1 Tool Steel is classified as low alloy steel due to the presence of various additives.

What is O1 Tool Steel

What is O1 Tool Steel used for?

O1 Tool Steel is an overall tool steel that is typically used when hardness, strength, or wear resistance are required. It has a strong edge that can be honed yet does not easily dull.

As a result, it is widely used to make gauges, shims, stamps, jigs, cutters, guides, levers, saws, knives, straight edges, fixtures, mechanical components, punches, blanking dies, draw dies, forming dies, laminating dies, molding dies, swaging dies, screw dies, and trimming dies.

O1 tool steel is used in the manufacture of cutting devices such as blades. O1 tool steel can also be used to make knives and other similar goods.

O1 Tool Steel Chemical Composition:

The chemical composition of O1 Steel is mentioned below in the table:

Chemical Composition
Carbon (C)                                         0.95%                                              
Manganese (Mn) 1.2%
Tungsten (W) 0.50%
Chromium (Cr) 0.50%
Vanadium (V) 0.15%
Silicon (Si) 0.4%
Phosphorus (P) 0.3%
Sulfur (S) 0.03%
Nickel (Ni) 0.3%

What is the Hardness of O1 Tool Steel?

On the Rockwell hardness scale, O1 has a hardness of 57HRC. This is a very high hardness level that gives an excellent blend of toughness, wears resistance, and edge retention.

The level of hardness, on the other hand, can vary from sample to sample depending on the heat treatment procedure utilized. Because of the various heat treatment techniques, you can obtain a sample with lower or higher hardness.

You don’t have to be concerned about the surface of your O1 steel being readily destroyed or chipped away.



01 Tool Steel Knife:

O1 steel can be used to make knives because it is very easy to work with them. It is simple to mold and sharpen. The steel generates a very sharp edge that will not dull readily.

However, O1 steel can rust and should be handled with care to avoid rusting. After usage, simply drying and oiling the knife is generally sufficient. O1 steel is used in some high-end mass-produced blades.

Investing in an O1 tool steel knife would be a wise decision. O1 tool is superb steel with a lot of characteristics. O1 tool steel is an excellent choice since it adds strength and toughness to a knife.

01 Tool Steel Knife

O1 Tool Steel Properties:

1.      Great Edge Retention:

O1 has excellent edge retention due to its high level of hardness. These knives can keep their sharp edge for an extended period. This is another reason why this steel is employed in the manufacture of outdoor knives.

You may be certain that after sharpening your O1 knife steel, it will retain its sharpness for a very long time. This is a positive factor because it will cause you to sharpen your steel less frequently, so preserving the steel’s quality.

2.      Not Good Corrosion Resistance:

This is an area where the O1 tool steel for knives falls short. It has poor anti-corrosion properties. As we know, Chromium, along with other chemical elements such as Nitrogen and Molybdenum, is crucial for managing corrosion resistance in a steel alloy.

Keeping this in mind, the amount of Chromium is fairly low – as little as 0.6 percent – resulting in average corrosion resistance. That being said, you must take proper care of it, such as keeping it dry and grease, to avoid corrosion and rust.



3.      Machinability:

Machinability is another area where this steel benefits. According to the steel manufacturer, it has a relatively high machinability of up to 90%, making it easy to work with.

4.      Excellent Wear Resistance:

One of the most important reasons to utilize O1 tool steel for knife production is its exceptional wear resistance—one of the characteristics of good knife steel. The proper combination of carbon, vanadium, and manganese is responsible for this. In short, despite constant use, O1 tool steel knives will survive a long time.

5.      Surprising Toughness:

O1 is also very tough alloy steel. While it does not have the same level of hardness as high-end steel, this tool steel will withstand tough tasks such as bush crafting without breaking or chipping.

6.      Ease of Sharpness:

This steel is extremely simple to sharpen. It takes a fine edge quickly and holds it for a long time. Beginners with minimal sharpening skills will appreciate how quickly this knife sharpens with typical sharpening equipment. As previously said, it also retains its edge for an extremely extended period, ensuring that you are not dulling in the middle of a cutting task.

01 Tool Steel Knife - Ease of Sharpness

7.      O1 tool steel equivalent

Being a hard tool with exceptional edge retention, toughness, and wear resistance, but rusting easily, it brings me to AISI L6; yet, there is a significant difference in their composition, with L6 having a higher nickel content, making it slightly tougher than O1.



O1 Tool Steel Heat Treating:

The O1 steel heat treating for knives and other cutting devices is simple. In a nutshell, raise it to a high temperature, quench it in vegetable oil, and then temper it for one hour at 400° in a toaster oven or regular kitchen oven. The key to success is to uniformly heat the metal. Creating an enclosure with anything, such as fire brick will assist you in accomplishing this.

Using a simple MAPP gas torch, slowly heat the steel. Heat down takes a little longer than expected. If you quench it in oil while one side is hotter than the other, it will distort. As a result, heat slowly.

O1 Tool Steel Heat Treating

There are several methods for identifying when a temperature is essential. Avoid relying on color since the color you see can be affected by ambient light.

Because O1 tool steel loses its magnetic at this temperature, using a magnet is the simplest approach to determine whether you have reached a critical temperature.

The rare earth magnet is attached to the end of the maple stick pictured above. This is a simple way of testing the safety of steel when it is subjected to high temperatures. Only frequently take the steel from the flame and test it with a magnet.

If the temperature rises to a critical point, quench the steel in oil by spraying the blade directly vertically, without tilting to one side or the other. Now, immediately transfer to the oven to temper for one hour at 400°F.



O1 Steel Vs Other Steels:

O1 Tool Steel Vs D2:

D2 steel is a more chromium-rich air-hardened variant. As a result, it provides improved corrosion resistance, wears resistance, and edge retention. O1, on the other hand, is tougher and easier to sharpen.

O1 Steel D2 Steel
More Edge Retention
Improved Corrosion Resistance
High Machinability
More Wear Resistance
High Toughness
Ease Of Sharpness

O1 Tool Steel Vs 1095:

Because it includes 0.6% chromium, O1 steel is more corrosion resistant than 1095 steel. O1 is also more robust and resistant to wear than O1. In terms of machinability, o1 is a better choice than 1095. 1095 CRO-Van steel gives ease of sharpening.

O1 Steel 1095 Steel
More Edge Retention
Improved Corrosion Resistance
High Machinability
More Wear Resistance
High Toughness
Ease Of Sharpness

O1 Tool Steel Vs A2:

Sharpening is easier with O1 tool steel, while corrosion resistance is better with A2 steel. In terms of toughness and edge retention, both sheets of steel rank identically.

O1 Steel D2 Steel
More Edge Retention
Improved Corrosion Resistance
High Machinability
More Wear Resistance
High Toughness
Ease Of Sharpness

O1 Tool Steel Vs O2 Steel:

O2 has a little higher manganese (Mn) content, which results in slightly superior hardening qualities. O1 tool steel is significantly more corrosion resistant and may hold a slightly better edge.

O1 Steel O2 Steel
More Edge Retention
Improved Corrosion Resistance
High Machinability
More Wear Resistance
High Toughness
Ease Of Sharpness

O1 Tool Steel Vs S30V:

S30V is the clear victor in terms of edge retention and corrosion resistance. On the other hand, O1 is more durable and less expensive than S30V.

O1 Steel S30V Steel
More Edge Retention
Improved Corrosion Resistance
High Machinability
More Wear Resistance
High Toughness
Ease Of Sharpness

O1 Tool Steel Vs 1084:

Both steel grades are quite flexible and ideal for knife manufacture. However, because of its Tungsten concentration, O1 outperforms 1084 in terms of wear resistance. If you require great hardness, O1 is also a good choice. However, keep in mind that o1 is more expensive than 1084 steel.

O1 Steel 1084 Steel
More Edge Retention
Improved Corrosion Resistance
High Machinability
More Wear Resistance
High Toughness
Ease Of Sharpness

O1 Tool Steel Vs H1:

The O1 tool steel has better hardness and edge retention, but the H1 steel has better corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening.

O1 Steel H1 Steel
More Edge Retention
Improved Corrosion Resistance
High Machinability
More Wear Resistance
High Toughness
Ease Of Sharpness



Is O1 Steel Good for Knives?

The answer is yes, O1 tool steel is suitable for blades. Because it is easy to work, O1 is common forging steel that may be used to create blades. It is also simple to form quickly. O1 tool steel produces an extremely sharp edge that will not dull as fast.

Although O1 steel has exceptional edge retention, high wear resistance, hardness, and hardness, it is not highly corrosion resistant. O1 steel can rust; hence care must be taken to keep it from rusting.

So, if you intend to acquire an O1 steel knife, I recommend that you care for it after any wet use (Drying and oiling the knife is a must).

O1 steel is used in various high-end mass-produced blades due to its many characteristics. Randall Knife, Crazy Dog Knife, and many other bespoke knife producers favor O1 steel.

Best O1 Steel Knives:

Here are the 3 Best O1 Steel Knives:

  1. Perkin Knives – Hunting Knife
  2. Alice•G Custom Made Full Tang O1 Steel Fixed Blade Knife
  3. Cold Steel Trail Master in O-1 Steel Bowie Knife



1. Perkin Knives – Hunting Knife – Best Design

Perkin Knives - Hunting Knife

This 8-inch Perkin knife is also ideal for hunting or camping. It has a stunning design and outstanding craftsmanship, which sets it apart from the majority of its competitors.

It comes with an 8-inch blade constructed of O1 steel, which has outstanding edge holding and hardness. This blade is razor-sharp right out of the box and will perform an excellent job dressing an elk or deer. And if it becomes dull while working in the fields, sharpening it is simple and quick!

 

2. Alice•G Custom Made Full Tang O1 Steel Fixed Blade Knife – Sharp Edge

Alice•G Custom Made Full Tang O1 Steel Fixed Blade Knife

This knife is extremely well-made. It measures 8 3/8″ overall and has a 4″ x 1″ blade. Full tang with a strong bolster (the thick junction between the handle and the knife blade that offers a seamless transition from the blade to the handle), so the blade, bolster, and tang are all one piece. It has a good crisp edge to it. The handle looks amazing, with a tight (nearly) seamless transition between materials.

 

3. Cold Steel Trail Master in O-1 Steel Bowie Knife – High Performance

Cold Steel Trail Master in O-1 Steel Bowie Knife

This is yet another excellent bush crafting/camping/hiking/hunting knife made of high-performance o1 steel. It has an overall fixed blade length of 9.5 inches. The knife itself measures 14.5 inches long and weighs 16.7 ounces, making it excellent for jobs such as batoning, wood chopping, and so on.

We like that Cold Steel employs O1 steel for the blade of this knife, which allows it to resist bushcraft use. This provides it strong as nails hardness while also allowing it to easily take a fine edge. The fact that it is razor-sharp right out of the box qualifies it as functional. Furthermore, honing the blade in the field is a breeze!

 

O1 Tool Steel Knife – FAQs

Is O1 high carbon steel?
O1 is simple high carbon tool steel with only 1.1 percent manganese added to the iron/steel alloy. Because of the Mn pinch, the steel can harden with an oil quench (the “O” in O1 stands for Oil).
Is O1 high-speed steel?
O1 is original oil-hardening, “non-shrinking” tool steel that can be hardened to the Rockwell C 65 range from a low austenitizing temperature. O1 is a general-purpose tool steel that is commonly used in applications where alloy steels do not give adequate hardness, strength, or wear resistance.
How hard is O1 steel?
O1 steel is a non-deforming oil-hardening tool steel. It is”non-shrinking” steel that can be hardened to a Rockwell Range of C 65 at relatively low temperatures.
Is 01 steel good for swords?
O1 is an excellent knife blade material; however, it is not suitable for swords. The alloy has a slightly firm texture. That translates to fragile. Longer, thinner portions, such as a sword, tend to break as a result. It is an excellent hunting blade. Shorter styles are less likely to break.

 

Bottom Line: How good is O1 steel?

O1 tool steel is the best choice for producing knives and blades because it adds strength and toughness to the blade. O1 steel offers several other advantages, such as being water-resistant and producing a firm edge. Its toughness slows down the machining process and makes it ideal for beginners because mistakes take longer to make.

O1 steel is one of the most expensive carbon steels, and it also has limited corrosion resistance, so you must take care of your knife after use to keep it in good form.

Despite its high cost, this is an excellent option, and I recommend O1 steel to you. I do not advocate O1 tool steel if you are a hunter, diver, or use a culinary knife. In this scenario, a high corrosion resistance steel tool is preferable.



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