Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature780°C(1436°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature175°C(347°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles1x
Quench Medium
water
Target Hardness
60 - 62 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness5/10
Edge Retention6.5/10
Corrosion Resistance1/10
Ease of Sharpening7/10
Overall Score19.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Higher carbon than U8 (~1.0% C)
- 2Used for scalpels before stainless steel adoption
- 3Part of traditional Russian knife making heritage
- 4Better edge retention than U8 but less tough
Famous Uses
Russian forged knives
Traditional tools
Soviet medical scalpels (pre-1980s)
Best For
Precision tools
Fine knives
Wood carving
Similar Steels
1095
American equivalent
SK3
Japanese equivalent
Not Recommended For
- Wet environments
- Western markets
- Beginners
Expert Tips
- 1High carbon - good edge retention
- 2More brittle than U7/U8
- 3Rusts easily
- 4Similar to 1095