Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1045°C(1913°F)
Soak Time20 minutes
Tempering
Temperature200°C(392°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
58 - 60 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness5.5/10
Edge Retention4/10
Corrosion Resistance7/10
Ease of Sharpening7/10
Overall Score23.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1GOST Russian equivalent of AISI 440C
- 2Contains 0.20% titanium unlike Western 440C
- 3Most commonly used stainless steel for Russian knife making
- 4Connection to WWII 'black knife' (Shtrafbat)
- 5Zlatoust is Russia's knife capital since ancient times
Famous Uses
Russian hunting knives
Shtrafbat WWII knife
Kizlyar production
Best For
Folding knives
General cutlery
Decorative daggers
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Premium segment
- Fine kitchen work
- Extreme tasks
Expert Tips
- 1Russian 440C equivalent
- 2Titanium addition unique
- 3Good corrosion resistance
- 4Popular in Russian knives