Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1040°C(1904°F)
Soak Time20 minutes
Tempering
Temperature175°C(347°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
56 - 58 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness7/10
Edge Retention5/10
Corrosion Resistance7/10
Ease of Sharpening7.5/10
Overall Score26.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Aichi Steel production (Japan)
- 2Japanese equivalent to 440A - budget stainless
- 30.65-0.75% carbon, 13-14.5% chromium
- 455-58 HRC - lower than AUS-8
- 5Good corrosion resistance, easy sharpening
- 6Less carbon and no vanadium vs AUS-8
Famous Uses
Budget Japanese folders
Entry-level kitchen knives
Best For
Budget kitchen knives
Production chef's knives
Entry-level cutlery
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Wear resistance
- Hard work
- Professionals
Expert Tips
- 1Straightforward heat treatment
- 2Low carbon makes it manageable
- 3Good for production work
- 4Entry point in AUS series