Fine grain structural steel 1.8974/S700

Many have reservations about using mild steel in a blade. And for a good reason. Structural steel is usually produced with a lower purity and with higher tolerances in terms of composition. As a result, structural steel is often more susceptible to corrosion and does not form a stable patina. 

However, this does not apply to high-strength fine-grain structural steels. These are produced according to much stricter criteria and with clearly defined compositions. 

The 1.8974 is ideal for the production of decorative damascus steel, both for the side layers of blades and for purely decorative objects. It has some advantages over the frequently used 1.2842: 

- The S700 is even easier to weld than the 1.2842 due to the complete lack of chrome.

- Due to the high manganese content, it is just as dark in damascus steel as 1.2842.

- In combination with a carbon containing nickel steel such as 1.2767 or 1.5634, the steel can be hardened by the diffusing carbon. After hardening, the damascus steel shows good elasticity and scratch resistance. At the same time, such an ornamental damascus steel is much easier to grind and finish than a combination with 1.2842.

- The S700 is significantly cheaper than the 1.2842.

The 1.8974 is also suitable as a side layer for 3-layer blades. It has a higher strength than, for example, pure iron or structural steel. This reduces the risk of the blade bending. It also has a higher scratch resistance than the materials mentioned above. It also forms a stable patina, which is particularly desirable in the kitchen knife sector.