Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1050°C(1922°F)
Soak Time20 minutes
Tempering
Temperature180°C(356°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles1x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
58 - 61 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness5.5/10
Edge Retention7/10
Corrosion Resistance7.5/10
Ease of Sharpening5.5/10
Overall Score25.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Takefu Special Steel production - 'V Gold 1'
- 21.0% carbon for excellent edge retention
- 360 HRC - relatively high for stainless
- 4Four requirements: hardness, toughness, wear, corrosion resistance
- 5Tends to 'slip' on whetstones during sharpening
- 6Less ductile than VG-10 - may chip easier
Famous Uses
Yoshihiro kitchen knives
Japanese gyuto
Hair cutting shears
Best For
Larger fixed blades
Light-use knives
Kitchen cutlery
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Premium segment
- Extreme wear
Expert Tips
- 1Ingot manufacturing
- 2Heat treatment impacts performance
- 3Not for maximum wear resistance