Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1052°C(1926°F)
Soak Time10 minutes
Tempering
Temperature204°C(399°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
58 - 60 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness5.5/10
Edge Retention4.5/10
Corrosion Resistance7/10
Ease of Sharpening7/10
Overall Score24/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Higher carbon version of AUS-8 family
- 2Better edge retention and holds sharper edge than AUS-8
- 3Great introduction steel for Japanese knife users
- 4Made by Aichi Steel, same as AUS-8 and AUS-6
Famous Uses
Cold Steel knives
Japanese kitchen knives
Best For
Kitchen knives
General-purpose cutlery
Mid-range production knives
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Premium segment
- Extreme wear
- Budget projects
Expert Tips
- 1Top of AUS stainless series
- 2Better edge than AUS-8
- 3Slightly reduced corrosion vs AUS-6
- 4Practical maintenance choice