VG-10

VG-10 stands for V Gold 10 ("gold" meaning quality), or sometimes V-Kin-10 (kin means "gold" in Japanese), and is a quality cutlery grade stainless steel produced in Japan. Takefu Special Steel co.,Ltd, based in Takefu, Fukui Prefecture, Japan (former cutlery/sword-making center of Echizen) originally designed VG-10 stainless steel.

VG-10's initial market was aimed at Japanese chefs, but found its home in sport cutlery. However, Spyderco which produced some of its most popular models from VG-10 steel in Japan, resulting in a larger market for the steel.

Almost all VG-10 steel knife blades are manufactured in Japan.

Composition

VG-10 is a stainless steel with a high carbon content.

VG-10 chemical makeup:

Carbon:1.0% Chromium:15.0% Molybdenum:1.0% Vanadium:0.2% Cobalt:1.5%

VG-10 should not be confused with VG-1 stainless steel.

Applications

• VG-10 is used in many machine-made damascus knives such as those manufactured by KAI Shun, [Sumikama Kasumi] or CHROMA HAIKU Damascus or the Edge of Belgravia Damascus series. And most Hattori- and Hiro brand knives use this steel as well.
• Japanese kitchen cutlery from Spyderco and KAI/Kershaw/Shun utilize VG-10 in their upscale offerings.

External links

• http://www.e-tokko.com/eng_vg10.htm