I came across some old black diamonds(1.2 C%) at the flea market today. Bought two for .50 cents Im thinking of sandwiching some in a billit with 5160 for some knife stock. Anyone tried this? What do you think??

The files will be great. BUT 5160 is very hard to forge weld, to anything. I have so much trouble with it, that even after 15 years of welding, I wont use it unless I have to, and since I call the shots in my forge. I dont have to very often. It is your call, but I suggest another material to mix with the files.

Thanks for the heads up. What do you suggest?? :)

If you are going to try for some pattern welded find some old band saw blades or L6 or 15N20.

Old Black Diamonds are excellent knife stock, as is.

There's a lotta good blades that aren't pattern-welded.