Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1050°C(1922°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature175°C(347°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
58 - 60 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness6/10
Edge Retention5/10
Corrosion Resistance7/10
Ease of Sharpening8/10
Overall Score26/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Chinese-made steel comparable to AUS-8
- 2Very popular in budget knife market
- 3Good value for money - performs well with proper heat treatment
- 4Widely used by Kershaw, CRKT, and other budget brands
- 5Easy to sharpen, decent edge retention for the price
Famous Uses
Budget Kershaw knives
Chinese production knives
CRKT budget line
Best For
Budget folding knives
EDC knives
Entry-level production
Everyday carry blades
General utility cutting
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Premium segment (budget steel)
- Long work without sharpening
- Heavy tasks
Expert Tips
- 1Good budget steel
- 2Favorable Spyderco reviews
- 3Good value proposition
- 4Ingot manufacturing
- 5Moderate machinability from molybdenum
- 6Good carbide formation from Cr and V
- 7Excellent value for money