Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1050°C(1922°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature180°C(356°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles1x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
57 - 58 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness7.5/10
Edge Retention5/10
Corrosion Resistance7.5/10
Ease of Sharpening8/10
Overall Score28/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Made by Takefu Special Steel in Japan
- 2Lower tier than VG-10 - fewer alloying elements
- 3Good budget option for kitchen knives
- 4Easier to sharpen than VG-10 but less edge retention
- 5Often used as cladding layer for harder core steels
Famous Uses
Japanese kitchen knives
Budget santoku knives
Best For
Heavy-duty knives
Budget cutlery
Damascus/laminate backing
Similar Steels
VG-1
Slightly harder
420HC
American equivalent
Not Recommended For
- Wear resistance
- Hard work
- Premium segment
Expert Tips
- 1Lower carbon than VG-1
- 2Better corrosion resistance
- 3Good for laminates
- 4Ingot manufacturing