Description

Chinese budget stainless steel. Similar to AUS-8. Very popular in production knives due to low cost and acceptable performance.

Properties

Edge Retention
4.0/10
Corrosion Resistance
6.0/10
Toughness
6.0/10
Ease of Sharpening
9.0/10

Chemical Composition

C
0.80%
Carbon
Cr
13.00%
Chromium
Mo
0.20%
Molybdenum
V
0.10%
Vanadium

✓ Pros

Excellent value for money. Very easy to sharpen even in the field. Decent corrosion resistance. Good for budget production knives. Easy heat treatment.

✗ Cons

Edge retention is below average. Requires frequent sharpening. Not suitable for hard use. Softer than premium steels.

Grinding Notes

Very easy to grind. Forgiving of mistakes. Can use any abrasive. Great for beginners learning to grind.

Polishing Notes

Takes adequate polish. Not as fine as premium steels but acceptable for production knives.