[reconnecting]

Impressive work. I've always wondered how it's possible to "decompile" steel types. For example, one of my everyday use knives is a Kabelmesser pocket knife (WW2). It's probably from Solingen, although there's no logo on it.

I really like it because of the high-carbon steel, but I have no idea what specific type of steel was used, as I don't see much of such steel these days.

[Onavo]

It's not hard, just expensive. You need to pay a lab to do it, and the testing is very much destructive most of the time.

[dehrmann]

XRF might be able to non-destructively tell you the alloy.

[bobmcnamara]

The magic spice gun was my first thought as well, but they struggle to measure lighter elements like carbon.