Description
Japanese stainless steel similar to AUS-8 but from Hitachi. Popular in Spyderco and Japanese kitchen knives. Well-balanced properties.
Properties
Edge Retention
Corrosion Resistance
Toughness
Ease of Sharpening
Chemical Composition
C
1.00%
Carbon
Cr
15.00%
Chromium
Mo
0.20%
Molybdenum
✓ Pros
Well-balanced all-around performer. Easier to sharpen than VG-10. Better corrosion resistance than AUS-8. Moderate price. Proven in kitchen knives.
✗ Cons
Edge retention is moderate. Not exceptional in any category. Being replaced by more modern steels in many applications.
Grinding Notes
Grinds well. Moderate hardness makes it workable. Aluminum oxide or ceramic belts work fine. Keep cool during grinding.
Polishing Notes
Takes good polish. Fine grain structure. Popular for kitchen knife finishes. Works well with kasumi finish.