Knife making question(s)

[eagle24]

First, will a knife forged from 1075 steel hold a pretty good edge if properly forged, hardened, and tempered?  or do I need a higher carbon steel?  Second, any cautions before I try forging a blade?  My main concerns are not knowing what might have a negative affect on the properties of the metal (like maybe forging it too cold or getting the steel too hot).  Or do you just heat it up and go to work and then take care of the rest with hardening and tempering?

[LRB]

1075 will make a good blade. Don't let it get so hot it goes yellow, and don't hammer when it loses red. A bright red-orange should be a good forging heat. 1080/84 will hold an edge a tad better, but 1075 will work fine. Just don't try 1095. It is not for amatuers. 1075/80/84 will all heat treat relatively easy with minimal equiptment. 1095 does not.

[eagle24]

Thanks Wick!  I was going to try forging a blade and had some 1075 on hand.

[Chuck Burrows]

What Wick said though I tend to disagree about the not hammering below red, at least a bright red - dull red is still good - no it should not be black but I know of several top forgers who work blades at lower heats including Ed Fowler one of the most scientifically knowledgable bladesmiths working today.......

Actually anything down to around 1060 (Japanese sword blades are generally on the order of 1050 in fact) will work fine for a knife and FWIW 1075 is about as close to the original period steels as possible that is made today outside of small runs of specialty steels. That's based on actual tests of the steel in period blades.

[LRB]

  As I said, not below red, and you and I have might have a different opinion of Ed Fowler. When steel temp drops below red, you ain't gunna move it much anyway. Why would you want to continue beating on it? Re-heat, and re-start.