Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1040°C(1904°F)
Soak Time20 minutes
Tempering
Temperature175°C(347°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles1x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
52 - 56 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness8.5/10
Edge Retention3/10
Corrosion Resistance8.5/10
Ease of Sharpening9.5/10
Overall Score29.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Japanese basic stainless - 0.15% carbon only
- 2Very soft 52-54 HRC - easy to sharpen but dulls fast
- 3Excellent corrosion resistance for marine use
- 4One of the 'lowest end' true stainless steels
- 5Popular for budget knife production worldwide
- 6Sometimes called '420' without the J2 suffix
Famous Uses
Budget dive knives
Mora Companion
Cheap folders
Best For
Budget kitchen knives
Utility blades
Decorative pieces
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Any serious work
- Wear resistance
- Premium
Expert Tips
- 1Highly stain resistant
- 2Low edge retention
- 3Easy to sharpen
- 4Budget-oriented