1095 forging steel is an ideal steel for knife making as well as many other metal smith type hobbies. 195 steel is a high carbon steel that is very easy to shape through a process called forging. This steel lacks some of the manganese of other steels and as such has a lower harden-ability. The added carbon creates a carbon rich martensite with plenty of free carbon for good abrasion resistance. This steel required more care in the heat treatment process. Also, avoid lamellar annealing and overheating with this steel. Recommended working sequence for 1095: Forging: Heat to 2100 degrees Fahrenheit / 1150 Celsius. Do not forge below 1500 degrees Fahrenheit / 815 degrees Celsius. Normalizing - Heat to 1575 Celsius & then cool in still air. Annealing - heat to 1475 degrees Fahrenheit & furnace cool to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit at a rate not exceeding 50 degrees Fahrenheit per hour. Grinding Or Machining: Hardening - Austenitize heat to 1475 degrees Fahrenheit.