You're making me dig into work related books now...but if you want an easy test for steel or stainless steel, get yourself a drop of nitric acid. I have no idea where you might find nitric acid, but regardless. Put a drop of nitric acid on a clean metal surface, let it sit for 5 minutes. If it turns black/brown, or stays clear but has a black ring around it, you've got some form of carbon steel. If it doesn't react, it's stainless. It's a can't fail test, but good luck finding nitric acid, I don't think Wal-mart carries it.
