Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature870°C(1598°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature200°C(392°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles1x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
58 - 60 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness9.5/10
Edge Retention5.5/10
Corrosion Resistance1/10
Ease of Sharpening8/10
Overall Score24/40
Interesting Facts
- 12% silicon for extreme flexibility and toughness
- 2Can bend up to 70 degrees without permanent deformation
- 3Preferred by Cheness Cutlery for functional swords
- 4Not traditional for katana but excellent for combat use
- 5Tougher than 5160 and 1095 for sword applications
- 6Standard for automotive coil springs
Famous Uses
Functional katana
Heavy-duty swords
Combat training blades
Best For
Swords and katanas
Heavy-duty fixed blades
Large choppers
Impact-resistant tools
Similar Steels
5160
More chromium, more popular
1075
Without silicon, simpler composition
Not Recommended For
- Wet environments
- Thin blades
- Kitchen knives
Expert Tips
- 1Silicon adds shock resistance
- 2Better toughness than 1060
- 3Requires rust prevention
- 4Excellent for swords