L6 Flexibility (Without the Anime Magic) -- myArmoury.com

Derek Estabrook

Once again a curiousity question that I'm hoping will be answered by one the great smiths on the forum who work with the material. First off, I know the material is overhyped, but I do like the material when done by one of my favorite smiths. I wouldn't buy a 01/L6 blade from just anybody any more than I would use a wall hanger for wood chopping. Now, I know that the steel can be made tougher than most blades and most claim superior shock resistance, but I'm wondering whether it meets typical sword flex standards for returning to true. I have seen smiths test for master bladesmith using the material, but that was with long knife standard size and doesn't necessarily reflect its flex with a sword, though it does begin to make the answer lean more favorable without a conclusive result. Now, I'd appreciate it if only smiths who have worked it would answer, since I'm perfectly capable of making conjecture on my own. Not that your input wouldn't be appreciated, but I'd like a little more info from those who know.

Joel Whitmore · Posted: Sat 25 Mar, 2006 12:20 pm Post subject: Those who know

I have a sword made of L6 which is heat treated to martensite and not the famous bainite. Perhaps you would do better posting this question on a baldesmith website if you only want smiths to answer.

Joel

Derek Estabrook · Posted: Sun 26 Mar, 2006 10:46 am Post subject: Correction

My bad. Lets restrict posts then to more skilled responses. Those who have tested the blades, own them and know a little more about them, forged with L6, metallurgists, etc. Not just people guessing though please. Yeah, maybe you're right about the bladesmithing website, but I fiqured this is a pretty good website for info like that. Perhaps you'll share some more about the blade Joel. Tell me about the blade. Even if it doesn't answer my question, I love L6s and would like to hear about it. Well, I just love quality swords in general. Who forged it? What is the major difference between martensite and bainite? I've heard a little bit about it, but unless I can feel the blade in my hand sometimes I can be like a high school student in intro to physics where I can understand the material, but really have a hard time getting into it.

Joel Whitmore · Posted: Sun 26 Mar, 2006 4:43 pm Post subject: About my balde

My sword was made by Kevin Cashen. It is made of L6. Martensite and Bainite are different crystaline forms of the steel. These crystaline forms occur depending on how the blade is heat treated. Matrensite is a hard and flexible form of steel. Bainite is very hard and very flexible form of steel. Bainite has been used for some years in industrial parts where extreme flexibility is required. From what I have been able to gather L6 is one of the easier forms of steel to get to form bainite. Making bainite is no secret as any smith will tell you. The knowledge has been around for years. The legendary Howard Clark became mythical when he decided to make katanas out of L6 bainite. These katanas took huge amounts of abuse and held up like champs. Randal Graham took this knowledge and began to heat treat some of his Euro blades to get bainite. Since then L6 bainite has become a sort of "super steel" that everyone seems to long for.

When I had my version of Anduril made by Kevin Cashen, I talked at length about a possible bainite heat treat. Kevin, who is a master bladesmith, explained to me that L6 is a steel that will hold up supremely well when heat treated to martensite. Bainite would be more springy and tougher overall, but how many people would put thier sword to that level of abuse (chopping concrete blocks or bening the blade more than 90 degrees). Kevin also explained to me that he was much more familiar with heat treating to martensite than with bainite. I have had other blades 5160 steel with martensite heat treats take abuse above and beyond the abuse any sword was meant to take.

To answer your initial questions L6 bainite sword blades are very flexible and very tough. The only detrimental thing I have head ( and this is only anecdotal) is that there is some dimished capacity of the L6 bainite to hold an edge. I hope some smiths do chime in on this and correct any mistakes I have made here. I really love my blade and would not trade it for anything in the world. You can probably find posts here by doing a search for Anduril. Hope this helps.

Joel

Blaz Berlec · Posted: Mon 27 Mar, 2006 6:02 am Post subject: Re: About my balde

Derek Estabrook · Posted: Mon 27 Mar, 2006 6:54 am Post subject:

A replica of Anduril? Sounds very cool, especially with Kevin Cashen's name dropped in. I have to search for it now. So your verdict is that L-6 even Bainite still has very good flex. Well, it answers the first question and adds some great material for me to search. Well, about martensite maybe its more of a way of working martensite rather than just the presence of the material. I sincerely doubt Kevin Cashen would produce a brittle blade knowingly.

Angus Trim · Posted: Mon 27 Mar, 2006 8:26 am Post subject: Re: About my balde

Angus Trim

Derek Estabrook · Posted: Tue 28 Mar, 2006 7:42 am Post subject:

Well, Angus I think I'll take you at your word. Thanks for the information and I'm happy to hear from someone in the business who I truly respect. I wouldn't want you to change anything, 5160 is a very good material and the only thing I'd want changed is to have a few of your blades on my wall.

For anyone interested, I'm not sure about the policy for posting material from other websites, so heres a link to an article on Martensite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martensite

Blaz Berlec · Posted: Tue 28 Mar, 2006 11:02 am Post subject: Re: About my balde