High-carbon steel
1095, 1075, 5160 — what to reach for and why.
The workhorse
High-carbon steel is what you'll forge most. The number tells you the carbon — 1095 is 0.95% carbon, 1075 is 0.75%, and each point changes how the blade moves and hardens.
What to reach for
1095 hard, holds an edge, less forgiving 1075 the beginner's choice — easy, tough 5160 spring steel, for tools that must flex 15N20 bright layers in damascus
Why carbon matters
Carbon is what lets steel harden. No carbon, no quench, no edge — just soft iron. More carbon means a harder, more brittle steel. The whole craft is trading that line.