Scott, you can get W1 at a number of places such as fastenal and mcmaster carr, oh also MSC. Unfortunately it is in rounds or drill rod. So for a larger diameter you would need a press or power hammer. W2 is much harder to find, I believe Aldo is sold out. Aldo's 1095 is pretty good steel and makes nice hamons.

Brion

Hi Brion thanks for the reply I'll check out the suppliers. Since the intro class I took at haywood I've acquired a power hammer. I'm looking foward to making some knives.

Hope you and yours are well. Sincerly,Scott Gallagher

It looks like usaknifemaker has some w-2 in stock.

It seems like everyone has caught on to how good W-2 is and Aldo has been selling out pretty quickly. I would get in touch with him and find out when he's getting more then stock up.

Brion mentioned Aldo's 1095, his 1075 is really nice too. I've used it a few times now and while I haven't quite gotten the hang of it, I think it has the potential to make some really nice hamons. My last knife (w/ 1075) I got an actual choji hamon, something I've yet been able to get with the W-2.

|quoted:

It looks like usaknifemaker has some w-2 in stock.

It seems like everyone has caught on to how good W-2 is and Aldo has been selling out pretty quickly. I would get in touch with him and find out when he's getting more then stock up.

Brion mentioned Aldo's 1095, his 1075 is really nice too. I've used it a few times now and while I haven't quite gotten the hang of it, I think it has the potential to make some really nice hamons. My last knife (w/ 1075) I got an actual choji hamon, something I've yet been able to get with the W-2.

Thanks Justin for your reply sincerly,Scott gallagher

I'm a really big fan of W1. Even DHIII - the W2 guru - has told me numerous times that only with extensive use could anyone tell the difference between W1 and W2.

W2 has just a tad bit more vanadium, and that's about all. Yet even W1 has some Vanadium.

I've been getting my W1 from Fastenal for a decade. Their source on it is a place called Precision Marshall who is steel distributor that has their W1 made to their specs, so it is held within tight tolerances metallurgically.

It hardens amazingly easily and I find its ability to create a nice hamon is less finicky than W2. And I find the transition lines etch more boldly.

I won't go into any details here, but I once had a customer share a story about what he was able to accomplish with one of my W1 hunters and it was so extraordinary that I somewhat keep it to myself so as not to be called a liar!

You could get a piece of W1 maybe an inch in diameter and do your first couple forging heats sideways on your hammer dies to spread the bar laterally and make really wide Bowies/choppers.

These are W1:

Karl,

Thanks for posting this. I just acquired a good amount of W1 drill rod from Precision Marshall and am anxious to give it a try. Your hamons with it are beautiful! Sometime when you have the time, I'd love to hear how you get them-- H/T, claying the blade & finishing afterwards.

Thanks,

Gary

Karl

Thanks for your reply, your work is beautiful , I appreciate your help and all the help. Here in the abs. Sincerly, Scott gallagher

Hudson tool steel has very good prices on W-1 drill rod, shipping is reasonable, and they don't source from Taiwan or china as melt countries. Most everything from them is Belarus, France, Germany, and the USA.