I don't think they sell it outside of Japan. Carter gets it through his old connections from when was in Japan. Why Shirogami? There are plenty of great carbon steels to be had in the US.
So you're looking after a very high carbon with not much else? Ever heard of C145SC (1.1590.01). 1.45 C, 0.25 Mn and nothing else. It's made from Armco pure iron #4, purest commerically available iron.
So you're looking after a very high carbon with not much else? Ever heard of C145SC (1.1590.01). 1.45 C, 0.25 Mn and nothing else. It's made from Armco pure iron #4, purest commerically available iron.
1.1563 / C125U 1.20 to 1.35 Carbon and .10 to .35 Mang.
1.2008 / ------ 1.35 to 1.50 Carbon .25 / .40 Mang. and .5 Chrome
1.2063 / ------ 1.40 to 1.60 Carbon .50 / .70 Mang. and 1.30 / 1.50 Chrome
I would love to bring some of these Ultra High Carbons in stock. Trouble is finding enough people interested to make it worth having made. Rottman, is the C145SC commercially available. It would be a screamer to heat treat.
It is available through the German metallurgist Achim Wirtz, there was only one ton made of this stuff for him in a virgin/brand new furnace and - surprise - surprise - it is expensive. Due to the high end iron Phosphorus and Sulphur is down to a tenth of Hitachi shirogami.