Japanese knife steels

Aogami Super

379 listings · 19 makers

The most highly alloyed of the "blue paper" carbon steels: 1.40–1.50% carbon with 0.30–0.50% chromium, 2.00–2.50% tungsten and 0.30–0.50% vanadium. The extra carbon and alloy aim at longer edge life than Aogami #1 or #2. It is not stainless, so it needs to be wiped dry. Proterial rates hardened hardness at HRC 60 or more.

Composition: Proterial YSS data sheet, source

SG2/R2

408 listings · 18 makers

A powder-metallurgy stainless steel; SG2 is the common name for Takefu Special Steel's Super Gold 2 (SPG2), and retailers often list it as R2. Takefu does not publish its composition and lists hardness at HRC 62 or more. It is usually used as a hard core clad in softer stainless.

Composition: Takefu Special Steel data sheet, source

Aogami #2

153 listings · 18 makers

The most widely used blue steel: 1.05–1.15% carbon with 0.20–0.50% chromium and 1.00–1.50% tungsten added to a clean carbon base. It is generally seen as a balance of edge life and toughness. It is not stainless. Proterial rates hardened hardness at HRC 60 or more.

Composition: Proterial YSS data sheet, source

VG10

437 listings · 17 makers

A cobalt-bearing stainless steel from Takefu Special Steel, with a representative composition of 1.00% carbon, 15.00% chromium, 1.00% molybdenum, 0.25% vanadium and 1.55% cobalt. It is very common as the core of clad and Damascus-pattern knives. Takefu lists hardness at HRC 60 or more.

Composition: Takefu Special Steel data sheet, source

Shirogami #2

99 listings · 16 makers

The standard white steel of traditional Japanese knives: 1.05–1.15% carbon with the same low phosphorus and sulphur limits as #1 and no alloying additions. It is valued for taking a very fine edge quickly on whetstones. It rusts readily. Proterial rates hardened hardness at HRC 60 or more.

Composition: Proterial YSS data sheet, source

Aogami #1

50 listings · 9 makers

A high-carbon blue steel: 1.25–1.35% carbon, 0.30–0.50% chromium and 1.50–2.00% tungsten. Compared with Aogami #2 it trades some toughness and ease of sharpening for higher hardness and wear resistance. It is a carbon steel and will rust if left wet.

Composition: Proterial YSS data sheet, source

Molybdenum/Inox

81 listings · 7 makers

No cited description yet.

Ginsan

57 listings · 7 makers

Proterial's GIN 3 ("silver three"), a stainless steel with 0.95–1.10% carbon and 13.00–14.50% chromium. It is often chosen for traditional single-bevel shapes when a buyer wants stainless care with a fine-grained, easy-to-sharpen edge. Proterial rates hardened hardness at HRC 59 or more.

Composition: Proterial YSS data sheet, source

SLD

62 listings · 7 makers

No cited description yet.

Shirogami #1

23 listings · 6 makers

A plain high-carbon steel with very tight limits on impurities: 1.25–1.35% carbon, phosphorus ≤0.025% and sulphur ≤0.004%, and no alloying additions. It is the hardest of the white steels and is less forgiving in heat treatment. It rusts readily.

Composition: Proterial YSS data sheet, source

Swedish stainless

48 listings · 5 makers

No cited description yet.

SRS13/SRS15

90 listings · 3 makers

Powder high-speed stainless steels generally attributed to Nachi-Fujikoshi. Published figures give about 1.3% (SRS13) or 1.5% (SRS15) carbon with roughly 13% chromium, 2.75% molybdenum, 1.5% vanadium and 1.25% tungsten. They are used for very hard, wear-resistant cores.

Composition: zknives steel database (third-party), source

Shirogami #3

6 listings · 3 makers

No cited description yet.

AUS-10

12 listings · 2 makers

No cited description yet.

HAP40

113 listings · 2 makers

A powder high-speed tool steel from Proterial: 1.27–1.37% carbon, 3.70–4.70% chromium, 4.60–5.40% molybdenum, 5.60–6.40% tungsten, 2.80–3.30% vanadium and 7.50–8.50% cobalt. With only about 4% chromium it is not stainless and can discolour. Proterial gives hardened hardness of HRC 64–68, depending on heat treatment.

Composition: Proterial YSS data sheet, source

AUS-8

21 listings · 2 makers

No cited description yet.

SK/carbon

41 listings · 2 makers

No cited description yet.

Tamahagane

13 listings · 2 makers

No cited description yet.

ATS-34

4 listings · 1 makers

No cited description yet.

ZDP-189

183 listings · 1 makers

A powder-metallurgy steel from Proterial with very high carbon and chromium. The maker publishes only 3.00% carbon and 20.00% chromium; the rest is undisclosed. It is rated at HRC 65 or more, and its edges hold well but are slow to resharpen.

Composition: Proterial YSS data sheet, source

SKD

7 listings · 1 makers

No cited description yet.