Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1030°C(1886°F)
Soak Time60 minutes
Tempering
Temperature540°C(1004°F)
Time90 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
air
Target Hardness
60 - 62 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness6.5/10
Edge Retention6.5/10
Corrosion Resistance4/10
Ease of Sharpening5/10
Overall Score22/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Developed by Daido Steel, Japan as improved D2
- 2Claimed to have twice the toughness of standard D2
- 3Better impact resistance than D2 while similar wear resistance
- 4Popular among Japanese knife makers
- 5Achieves 62-64 HRC with improved toughness
Famous Uses
Custom knives
Industrial tooling
Upgraded D2 alternative
Best For
Industrial dies
Heavy-duty knives
Cold work tooling
Similar Steels
D2
DC53 is tougher and easier to machine
SKD11
Japanese D2
Not Recommended For
- Marine environment
- Beginners
- Fine work
Expert Tips
- 125% higher bending strength than D2
- 2Smaller carbide size = better toughness
- 3Beats most carbon steels in edge retention
- 4Edge may roll under impact