Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1080°C(1976°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature204°C(399°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
plate
Target Hardness
60 - 61 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness6/10
Edge Retention5/10
Corrosion Resistance7.5/10
Ease of Sharpening6/10
Overall Score24.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Made by Takefu Special Steel, Japan
- 2Became Spyderco's flagship steel for years
- 3Gold standard for Japanese stainless knives
Famous Uses
Spyderco Delica/Endura
Japanese kitchen knives
Best For
Kitchen knives
Chef knives
Folding knives
Similar Steels
AUS-8
Cheaper, softer, easier to sharpen
154CM
American equivalent, similar properties
AEB-L
Swedish alternative, thinner edge
CPM S30V
Next level for more money
Not Recommended For
- Heavy impact work (prone to chipping)
- Field knives (better to choose tougher steel)
- Budget projects (mid-range price)
Expert Tips
- 1Cobalt improves hardness and edge stability
- 2Excellent balance between edge retention and maintenance