Worked on my first couple of blade attempts EVER over the last two weeks a bit. One being a little hand knife for my father in law that I tried to finish while he was visiting (failed to do so) and the other a big “pig sticker” type knife for my buddy’s 35th birthday present.  I used the same steel (scrap yard cuttings from some metal factory) that had shown promise for being decent carbon %, After working it i’d say its at least 1040 or higher. It appears to be very responsive to water quench and comes to a wonderful spring temper after 30 minutes in the oven at 350F.