Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature816°C(1501°F)
Soak Time10 minutes
Tempering
Temperature204°C(399°F)
Time60 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
59 - 60 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness7/10
Edge Retention3.5/10
Corrosion Resistance2/10
Ease of Sharpening8.5/10
Overall Score21/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Famous for use as sword steel with Bainite microstructure
- 22% nickel content gives exceptional impact toughness
- 3Commonly known as 'saw steel' - used for large and small saws
- 4Howard Clark developed process for Bainite formation
- 5Larry Harley used L6 to win cutting competition
- 6Most popular answer when knifemakers asked 'steel for personal knife'
Famous Uses
Hanwei swords
Japanese katana
Sword making
Best For
Heavy-use tools
Chisels
Punches
Outdoor knives
Similar Steels
5160
Cheaper, easier to find, similar toughness
O1
More wear resistance, less toughness
S7
Even tougher, for extreme impacts
Not Recommended For
- Wet environments
- Small knives
- Kitchen (too tough)
Expert Tips
- 1Easy to forge and work with
- 2Mo and V optional per SAE but recommended
- 3Prioritize durability over edge retention