Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature815°C(1499°F)
Soak Time10 minutes
Tempering
Temperature200°C(392°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
58 - 60 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness7.5/10
Edge Retention4.5/10
Corrosion Resistance0.5/10
Ease of Sharpening9/10
Overall Score21.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Perfect beginner steel - very forgiving heat treatment
- 2Often used in place of 1084 due to availability
- 3Best steel for swords - returns to shape after flexing
- 4Can be heat treated with just a torch
- 5Hypo-eutectic - works with wide range of quench media
- 6Popular pairing with 1045 or 15N20 for Damascus
Famous Uses
Beginner bladesmithing
Sword making
Damascus with 15N20
Best For
Budget-friendly production knives
Folding knives
General purpose blades
Similar Steels
1084
Slightly harder, also great for beginners
1095
Classic upgrade, holds edge better
5160
More manganese, better for large blades
Not Recommended For
- Wet environments (rusts quickly)
- Thin cutting edge (1095 is better)
- Premium knives (too simple)
Expert Tips
- 1Responds well to traditional heat treatment
- 2Careful quenching and tempering
- 3Suitable for beginners