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1095 High-Carbon Steel (Annealed)

1095 is a high-carbon steel (about 0.95% carbon) supplied here in the annealed condition at 192 HB — soft enough to machine and form before heat treatment. Its value is its high hardenability: once quenched and tempered it reaches spring and blade hardness. Annealed, it shows 660 MPa tensile and 380 MPa yield, a workable starting point.

How 1095 High-Carbon Steel (Annealed) machines

In the annealed state it machines reasonably at 3.0/5, comparable to medium-carbon steel, allowing turning, milling, and grinding of features before hardening. High carbon makes it abrasive on tooling, so use rigid setups and adequate coolant. Always machine soft, then harden — machining at full spring hardness is impractical.

Manufacturing & processing

The defining route is heat treatment: machine or form annealed, then austenitize, quench (water or oil), and temper to the target hardness for springs or cutting edges. It also forges well. Corrosion resistance is low (1.5/5), so finished parts need oil, coating, or paint; bare 1095 rusts readily.

Typical applications

The go-to for springs, knife and tool blades, cutting edges, and other parts needing high hardness and edge retention after heat treat. Best where the design depends on a hardened, wear-resistant, springy final condition and the part can tolerate the rust susceptibility of plain carbon steel.

When to choose it

Choose 1095 when the finished part must be hardened to spring or blade hardness. Buy it annealed, machine or form, then heat treat. If you need a corrosion-resistant hardenable blade, consider 410 stainless. If you want strength without in-house heat treat, 1144 Stressproof or 4340 Q&T are easier.

Suitable surface finishes

Common finishes for 1095 High-Carbon Steel (Annealed): zinc plating, black oxide, powder coating, nickel plating. Use the finish selector →

FAQ

Why is 1095 sold annealed?
Annealed 1095 is soft (192 HB) so it can be machined, ground, and formed economically. The intended workflow is to shape it soft, then quench and temper to final spring or blade hardness. Machining it at full hardened strength would be slow and tool-destroying.
What hardness can 1095 reach after heat treatment?
With about 0.95% carbon, 1095 can be quenched and tempered into the spring and cutting-tool range — well above its 192 HB annealed condition. The exact final hardness depends on the quench medium and tempering temperature chosen for the target spring or blade application.
Does 1095 resist corrosion?
No. As a plain high-carbon steel it rates 1.5/5 and rusts readily. Knives and springs in 1095 require oiling, coatings, or careful storage. If corrosion resistance is essential, a hardenable stainless such as 410 is a better, though less wear-aggressive, choice.

Property values are typical/nominal for early guidance and vary by temper, grade, supplier and heat treatment. Confirm critical specs against a certified datasheet or with an mfgiq engineer.