Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1066°C(1951°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature204°C(399°F)
Time60 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
59 - 60 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness4.5/10
Edge Retention5/10
Corrosion Resistance6.5/10
Ease of Sharpening5.5/10
Overall Score21.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Made by Lohmann, Germany
- 2Unique for using Niobium alloying element
- 3Comparable to D2 but true stainless and easier to sharpen
- 4Also known as SB1 in German knife community
- 5Mainly used by German, French, Belgian knifemakers
- 6Hardness 58-63 HRC with excellent edge stability
Famous Uses
German hunting knives
Jurgen Schanz knives
European custom makers
Best For
General-purpose knives
Kitchen blades
Utility knives
Corrosion-resistant applications
General knife making
European-style cutlery
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Extreme wear
- Budget projects
Expert Tips
- 1Niobium carbide former
- 2Fine natural grain structure
- 3Underutilized despite capabilities
- 4Ingot manufacturing
- 5Fine-grained structure without PM processing
- 6D2-like wear resistance with better edge stability
- 7Niobium carbides provide unique characteristics