Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1060°C(1940°F)
Soak Time30 minutes
Tempering
Temperature200°C(392°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
58 - 62 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness5/10
Edge Retention6.5/10
Corrosion Resistance8/10
Ease of Sharpening5.5/10
Overall Score25/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Premium Russian stainless steel since 1966
- 2Made by ESR (Electroslag Remelting) for high purity
- 3Originally developed for aerospace ball bearings
- 4Considered the BEST Soviet stainless steel - military use
- 5Close to 440C but with ESR/VAR processing for superior quality
- 6Very difficult to forge - requires high skill
Famous Uses
Zlatoust forged knives
Russian tactical knives
A&R Finka
Best For
Forged knives
Semi-custom blades
Russian production
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Field use
- Budget projects
- Beginners
Expert Tips
- 1ESR/VAR manufacturing
- 2Titanium addition unique
- 3High-skill HT required
- 4440C-class performance