Description
Japanese premium stainless steel. High carbon content for a stainless steel provides good edge retention. Very popular for kitchen and EDC knives.
Properties
Edge Retention
Corrosion Resistance
Toughness
Ease of Sharpening
Chemical Composition
C
1.00%
Carbon
Cr
15.00%
Chromium
Mo
1.00%
Molybdenum
V
0.20%
Vanadium
✓ Pros
Well-balanced performance. Takes very sharp edge. Good for kitchen knives. Widely available. Proven track record in high-end folders.
✗ Cons
Can chip if used roughly due to moderate toughness. Corrosion resistance is adequate but not exceptional. Grinds moderately slowly.
Grinding Notes
Grinds moderately well. Higher carbon content means more care needed to avoid overheating. Ceramic or zirconia belts work well.
Polishing Notes
Takes excellent polish. Popular for Damascus cladding (San Mai construction). Shows beautiful hamon when clay hardened.