Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1050°C(1922°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature150°C(302°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
62 - 62 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness7/10
Edge Retention7/10
Corrosion Resistance7.5/10
Ease of Sharpening6.5/10
Overall Score28/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Takefu Special Steel production
- 2Between VG-2 and VG-10 in performance
- 3Popular for affordable Japanese-style knives
- 4Good balance of edge retention and ease of sharpening
Famous Uses
Mid-range Japanese kitchen knives
Entry gyutos
Best For
Kitchen knives
General-purpose cutlery
Similar Steels
VG-1
Similar class
AUS-6
Aichi equivalent
Not Recommended For
- Premium segment
- Extreme wear
Expert Tips
- 1Higher carbon than VG-2
- 2Versatile applications
- 3Japanese quality
- 4Ingot manufacturing