Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1050°C(1922°F)
Tempering
Temperature200°C(392°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
52 - 55 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness8/10
Edge Retention3/10
Corrosion Resistance7/10
Ease of Sharpening9/10
Overall Score27/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Cheapest Chinese knife steel - 0.30% carbon
- 2Equivalent to 420 stainless
- 3Very soft, very corrosion resistant
- 4Common in $5-10 budget knives
- 5Good for applications where edge retention doesn't matter
- 6Easy to produce, low cost
Famous Uses
Ultra-budget folders
Promotional knives
Disposable cutlery
Best For
Budget knives
Entry-level cutlery
Decorative blades
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Premium use
- Long work
- Professionals
Expert Tips
- 1Entry-level stainless
- 2Low carbon limits hardness
- 3Good corrosion resistance
- 4Frequent sharpening needed