Carbon Steel
Advanced
Mid-range

26C3

Heat Treatment Specifications

Austenitizing

Temperature801°C(1474°F)
Soak Time10 minutes

Tempering

Temperature177°C(351°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x

Quench Medium

oil_fast

Target Hardness

63 - 65 HRC

Performance Characteristics

Toughness6/10
Edge Retention4/10
Corrosion Resistance1/10
Ease of Sharpening9/10
Overall Score20/40

Interesting Facts

  • 1Sandvik razor blade steel
  • 2Very high carbon ~1.05% for extreme hardness
  • 3Designed specifically for razor applications
  • 4Takes incredibly fine edge
  • 5Not common in knives due to low toughness
  • 6The 'C' series is Sandvik's carbon steel line

Famous Uses

German/Swedish razor blades
High-end straight razors

Best For

Custom knives
Edge retention priority
Traditional blades

Similar Steels

1095

American equivalent by carbon content

Shirogami #2

Japanese competitor

Not Recommended For

  • Wet environments
  • Corrosion resistance
  • Beginners

Expert Tips

  • 1Very pure carbon steel
  • 2Low impurities
  • 3Not stainless
  • 4Maximum edge performance

Track Your 26C3 Heat Treats

Start logging your heat treatment cycles with 26C3. Track what works, compare results, and repeat your best blades.

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