Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature815°C(1499°F)
Soak Time30 minutes
Tempering
Temperature190°C(374°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles1x
Quench Medium
water
Target Hardness
62 - 64 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness6/10
Edge Retention7.5/10
Corrosion Resistance1/10
Ease of Sharpening6/10
Overall Score20.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Chinese tool steel - T = tungsten, 10 = 1.0% carbon
- 2Roughly equivalent to 1095 with 0.3% tungsten added
- 3Can reach extreme hardness (60-67 HRC)
- 4Popular for Longquan sword production in China
- 5Displays vibrant hamon when differentially tempered
- 6Excellent cutting power when properly forged
Famous Uses
Chinese functional katana
Dao swords
Budget samurai swords
Best For
Traditional hand tools
Chisels
Plane blades
High-carbon tool applications
Similar Steels
1095
American equivalent
SK5
Japanese equivalent
Not Recommended For
- Wet environments
- Western markets (unfamiliar)
Expert Tips
- 1Requires water hardening
- 2Careful thermal management
- 3High carbon demands precise HT
- 4Prone to rust