VG-10 steel
VG-10 is a conventional stainless steel from Takefu Special Steel. It rates 5/10 for edge retention, 4/10 for toughness and 7/10 for corrosion resistance, and is usually hardened to 59–61 HRC.
At a glance
- Type
- Stainless steels
- Hardness
- 59–61 HRC
- Maker
- Takefu Special Steel (Japan)
- Process
- ingot
- Price tier
- Mid-range
- Used by
- Spyderco, Fallkniven, Shun, Tojiro, Mcusta, Cold Steel (San Mai), Kai
- Also called
- V-Gold 10, VG10, V金10号
Composition
| Element | Weight % |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 15 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.2 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1 |
| Cobalt (Co) | 1.5 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.5 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.6 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.03 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.02 |
Source: manufacturer datasheet. Nominal values; where a range is published, the midpoint is shown. Phosphorus and sulfur, where listed, are maximums.
What makes VG-10 behave the way it does
VG-10 contains 1% carbon, enough to reach typical knife hardness; 15% chromium for corrosion resistance.
A small vanadium addition (0.2%) mainly refines grain size; molybdenum (1%) improves hardenability and pitting resistance; cobalt (1.5%) strengthens the matrix.
Cobalt improves hardenability; prone to micro-chipping if ground too thin.
Equivalent and similar steels
- VG-10 class (similar class; compositions differ): VG-10, 10Cr15CoMoV, N690, VG-MAX, ZA-18
Knives in VG-10
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight | Spyderco | 2.9" | 2.4 oz | Back lock | $132 | Blade HQ |
| Spyderco Endura 4 Lightweight | Spyderco | 3.8" | 3.3 oz | Back lock | $143 | Blade HQ |
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How to sharpen VG-10
VG-10 is moderately easy to sharpen (6/10). Water stones and ceramics work; diamond plates speed up reprofiling or repairing a damaged edge.
Compare VG-10 with
FAQ
Is VG-10 a good knife steel?
VG-10 is strongest in corrosion resistance (7/10) and weakest in toughness (4/10). Its average across the four ratings is 5.5/10, and it sits in the mid-range price tier.
Does VG-10 rust?
Not in normal use. VG-10 rates 7/10 for corrosion resistance; wipe it dry after contact with salt or acidic food.
Is VG-10 hard to sharpen?
VG-10 is moderately easy to sharpen (6/10). Water stones and ceramics work; diamond plates speed up reprofiling or repairing a damaged edge.
What hardness is VG-10?
Knives in VG-10 are usually hardened to 59–61 HRC. Makers can run it outside that range; harder means better edge retention but lower toughness.