coldsteelburns

O1 steel is most deffinitely a great steel for both stock removal and forging. Although I myself havnt really had the chance to forge with it, I have read many places that it is great to forge with. I remember reading a quote from somewhere that said (I can't remember specific sites or names of the people who said these things, but it is something that I have just picked up over the past few years that I've been into knifemaking and bladesmithing) a very well known bladesmith said that O1 tools steel will out cut even the best damascus blade there is as long as you have the skills to heat treat it perfectly, and appearently he was among a bunch of other bladesmiths when he said that and not one person disagreed with him. Again I appologize for not remembering the webpages or names. Basically the fact of the matter is that O1 tool steel has the potential to produce a much better knife than most other steels (when forged under proper conditions and heat treated properly) . But a simple answer to ur question is yes, O1 steel is a great forging steel and is also very forgiving when it come to heat treating (i.e you can re-heat treat it multiple times without worring about ruining the integrity of the steel) which makes it a nice steel for begginers, although 1084 HC steel is the perferred steel for beginners due to it being very easy to heat treat without pricey equipment. -Paul