All About Pocket Knives

O.K. I read alot of posts and have done some research, so now time for some questions. What I think I know: Use 0-1 or 1095 for springs, heat to a cherry red and quench in oil. Then temper to a blue or purplish color for kick and backsprings, quench in water, repeat up to 3 times?
Now I was leaning towards using 0-1 for everything, maybe even a blade eventually, or do people prefer to use 1095 for springs and save the 0-1 for blades?

So how bout a question or two. So lets just starts by saying, I think I'll try my luck at a kick spring first as I have a knife that has a good kicker but it has other issues so I'm going to take it apart and use it as a template.

One question is: should I just cut a straight piece, bend it, heat treat it and temper it. Guess what I'm thinking is, do all the work before heat treat, i.e., cut, size, grind, sand, what have you, then bend it and follow on to heat treat, temper. So next is when tempering do I temper the whole length of the spring? I read on backsprings to just temper just past the center pin, is this true.

alright I'll stop for now.

I like to temper the whole length of the spring whether its kick or back. I usually use the same procedure you described in the begining of your post for 01 and 1095 alike. Some folks use 01 for everything but the 1095 seems easier to work with so they use it for the small parts.

As far as making kick springs, cut, grind, shape ect then bend it but bend it farther than your template, that way once compressed if it takes a little set (most do) it will still be the correct strength to operate properly

Thanks, I actually got the Ben Kelley, jr. book from the library in the interum and he briefed over heat treat and temper. only difference is he says to wipe with oil on temper. But it seems like people have their preferences that's all.

It'll probably be awhile til I get everything I need but, I post results

I have some questions about heat treat and temper of blades but I guess I'll start another thread.