Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1050°C(1922°F)
Tempering
Temperature200°C(392°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
52 - 54 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness7/10
Edge Retention4/10
Corrosion Resistance7/10
Ease of Sharpening8/10
Overall Score26/40
Interesting Facts
- 1GOST 40Х13 - Russian 420 equivalent
- 20.40% carbon, 13% chromium
- 3Standard Soviet/Russian kitchen knife steel
- 4Very corrosion resistant but soft
- 5Easy to sharpen, dulls relatively quickly
- 6Affordable and widely available in Russia
Famous Uses
Russian kitchen knives
Budget stainless cutlery
Best For
Budget knives
Kitchen cutlery
Utility blades
Similar Steels
420
American equivalent
95X18
Significant upgrade
Not Recommended For
- Premium use
- Extreme loads
- Wear resistance
Expert Tips
- 1Highly stainless
- 2Lower hardness/edge retention
- 3Budget-friendly
- 4Easy to sharpen