What stainless to use?

Keith Willis

Keith Willis

Well-Known Member
Wondering what type and thickness of stainless do I need to make my linerlocks..I have always used Titanium
in .050 and .070 but am thinking of trying stainless.I am out of Titanium,and before I order any I may decide to go with the stainless.Thanks in advance

Also wondering if there are any + or --'s when it comes to using one or the other


God bless
 
Last edited:
Hi Keith.
I did at one time use a stainless 302 half hard or 203 half hard which was an excellent material. It had a natural
springiness to it even more than titanium. You could heat this stuff red hot, bend it, let it cool, and it would not fail if bent in that same location. Some known maker piped up that it was in fact not worth using. I stopped only because of a lack of availability It was .060thick. Hole drilling was at that time difficult because carbide bits weren't common in odd sizes and you couldn't colour it. I haven't used any other of the more common to us stainless for liners but I have read several times of makers using the same stainless for springs in lock backs and slip joints as they use for the blades, with a different hardness of course.
. I think if you stayed with .050 or .060 you would be fine. Frank
 
Thanks for the information Frank....Will 416 heatreat enough for the spring? Just wondering.I wanted to try me one,I am right now out of wood
I thought why not a framelock,so I put one together with 416,haven't tried to heat treat it yet and may have wasted time and material.If so,no
need to cry about it..Thanks again

God bless
 
416 is amazing stainless. It will air harden to rc46 from 1900f. It would make beautiful frame material. If you have a Rockwell tester you can get it perfect.
 
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