Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1030°C(1886°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature180°C(356°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles1x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
56 - 58 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness8/10
Edge Retention5/10
Corrosion Resistance8/10
Ease of Sharpening9/10
Overall Score30/40
Interesting Facts
- 1German DIN stainless steel
- 2Similar to 420HC in performance
- 3Common in European mass-market knives
- 4Good corrosion resistance, modest edge retention
- 5Easy to sharpen and maintain
- 6Workhorse steel for everyday cutlery
Famous Uses
German budget kitchen knives
Mass-produced cutlery
Best For
Budget-friendly kitchen knives
Entry-level cutlery
Utility blades
Similar Steels
420HC
American equivalent
X50CrMoV15
Similar class, different composition
Not Recommended For
- Professional kitchen
- Premium knives
- Heavy work
Expert Tips
- 1Ingot manufacturing
- 2Easy to work with for beginners
- 3Moderate alloy composition