Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature820°C(1508°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature200°C(392°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles1x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
55 - 58 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness7.5/10
Edge Retention5.5/10
Corrosion Resistance1/10
Ease of Sharpening8/10
Overall Score22/40
Interesting Facts
- 1German DIN 1.1221 carbon steel - equivalent to SAE 1060
- 20.60% carbon - medium-high carbon steel
- 3Popular in European industrial applications
- 4Good toughness-hardness balance for machine parts
- 5Sometimes used in budget European knives
Famous Uses
German industrial blades
Springs
Machine parts
Best For
Industrial applications
Budget blades
Springs
Similar Steels
1060
American equivalent
5160
With chromium, better properties
Not Recommended For
- Wet environments
- Long work without sharpening
- Premium
Expert Tips
- 1Simple carbon steel
- 2No alloying elements
- 3Medium carbon content
- 4Requires care to prevent rust