Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1018°C(1864°F)
Soak Time30 minutes
Tempering
Temperature288°C(550°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
air
Target Hardness
58 - 60 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness4/10
Edge Retention5.5/10
Corrosion Resistance4/10
Ease of Sharpening5/10
Overall Score18.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Called 'semi-stainless' with 12% chromium
- 2WWII origins in tool and die industry
- 3DC53 was developed as improved version by Daido
Famous Uses
Budget tactical knives
Industrial applications
Best For
Custom folding knives
Fixed blade knives
Production knives
Similar Steels
A2
Less chromium, but tougher and easier to sharpen
K390
PM version with better properties, more expensive
CPM D2
Powder metallurgy version — finer carbides, better
M390
Fully stainless with better wear resistance
Not Recommended For
- Marine environment (semi-stainless, but not fully)
- Beginners (complex heat treatment, hard to sharpen)
- Thin fillet knives (somewhat brittle)
Expert Tips
- 1Heat treat to 61-62 HRC
- 2Resists rust well but not fully stainless