There are many steel grades available in the market that are used for making knives and other tools; VG10 steel is one of them. Many people often ask, “Is VG10 a good knife steel?” Yes, VG10 steel is a good steel for high-quality knives. It is well-known for being high-quality steel for decades.
Therefore, if you’re a knife user or knifemaker, you may already know or have heard about Japanese VG10 steel. If you don’t know about What is VG10 Steel? The Answer is VG10 is a high-end Japanese stainless steel that comes with a balanced chemical composition. It is produced in Japan by Takefu Special Steel Corporation. VG10 steel offers great corrosion resistance, edge retention, hardness, wear resistance, and toughness; that is why it is widely used for making knife blades and other tools. And In this article, I will share all the information related to VG10 steel, including VG10 steel hardness, chemical composition, and many more. Moreover, you will get to know the best carbon steel knives in this article.
Let’s start with the VG10 steel review.
Table of Contents
VG10 Steel Review
VG10 is one of the most famous steels in Japan. It is a Japanese high-quality stainless steel that is high in Vanadium and Carbon. VG10 steel offers great edge retention, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, hardness, and toughness; that is why it is widely used for making knife blades and other tools. It is also known as VG-10 or VG 10 steel.
The G in VG10 stands for “Gold,” which refers to the gold standard that this steel matches the high level of stainless steel. Moreover, it is produced in Fukui, Japan, by Takefu Special Steel Corporation.
VG10 Steel Chemical composition
The elements included in the VG10 steel help the steel to reach a high level of hardness and corrosion resistance. VG10 steel consists of different elements, and each element is used for different purposes and has different features.
The elements included in the VG10 steel grade are as follows:
| Elements | Percentage | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 15.5 | Chromium increases the edge retention and strength of the steel. Furthermore, it also enhances the steel’s corrosion resistance and wears resistance. |
| Cobalt | 1.5 | Cobalt enhances the individual effects of other elements. |
| Carbon | 1.05 | Carbon increases the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the steel. Moreover, it also increases the steel’s hardness. However, a high amount of carbon may decrease the strength of the steel. |
| Molybdenum | 1.2 | Molybdenum increases the strength and machinability of the steel. |
| Manganese | 0.5 | Manganese increases the hardness and brittleness of the steel. |
| Vanadium | 0.3 | It improves the hardenability and wears resistance of the steel. |
| Phosphorus | 0.03 | Phosphorus increases the strength of the steel. |
VG 10 is stainless steel because it has a high amount of chromium and carbon in its composition. It is said any steel with more than 12% of chromium is known as stainless steel. However, VG 10 has more than 15% of chromium, which is why it is considered stainless steel.
The good thing about VG 10 steel is that it has cobalt in its composition. The presence of cobalt is beneficial in steel as it enhances the effect of all elements in steel.
Rockwell hardness of the VG10 steel
As you know, VG10 is stainless steel with high chromium, high cobalt, and high carbon. It also has a high amount of molybdenum and manganese. All these elements offer a high level of hardness and corrosion resistance to the steel.
Moreover, the Rockwell hardness of the VG10 steel is between 60 to 61 HRC.
VG-10 Stainless Steel Properties
VG10 steel has an amazing chemical composition and HRC. According to the HRC and chemical composition of the VG10 steel, it offers some amazing properties, which are as follows:
Edge Retention
VG10 steel comes with a Rockwell hardness between 60 to 61 HRC. This Rockwell hardness means that VG10 is hard steel and hard steels offer amazing edge retention. Therefore, VG10 steel also offers amazing edge retention because it is hard steel.
Wear Resistance
VG10 is hard steel, and being hard steel with high chromium, carbon, and vanadium, it offers good wear resistance.
Corrosion Resistance
As you know, VG10 is stainless steel because it has a high amount of Chromium in its composition. The stainless steels always offer excellent corrosion resistance. As this steel is also stainless steel, therefore it offers excellent corrosion resistance. However, it does not mean that it is immune to corrosion.
Sharpness
As you know, VG10 is hard steel but is not that difficult to sharpen. Therefore, sharpening experience will not be that much hard for VG10 steel.
Toughness
The VG10 is durable steel because it has a high amount of chromium. Also, it has molybdenum in its composition. Both of these elements, along with other elements, offer steel high strength and hardness.
Machinability
The good thing about VG10 steel is that it is very machinable because of the molybdenum in its composition. Moreover, the VG10 steel is also qui8te easy to grind.
Is VG10 steel good for Knives?
Yes, VG10 steel is good for knives.
VG10 steel offers great wear resistance, corrosion resistance, toughness, hardness, and edge retention, which makes it a good option for knives. VG10 steel knives are good for a humid environment.
VG10 steel knives are especially best for pocket, hunting, and tactical knives. However, it is also best for kitchen knives. So, if you are a fisherman, hunter, camper, VG10 knives will be the perfect choice for you.
Best VG10 steel Knives
There are many knives available in the market that are made with VG10 stainless steel. Some of the best VG10 steel knives are as follows:
1. FANTECK Professional Damascus Chef Knife – Perfect for a gift
FANTECK is a knife brand that has been making knives for a long time. Their knives are beautiful as well as functional. This knife is one of the best FANTECK knives. It comes with an 8-inch blade that is made from 67 layers of special Japanese steel, i.e., VG10.
The VG10 steel ensures exceptional durability, strength, and stain resistance. Moreover, it is manufactured according to the ancient techniques of making Samurai swords such as Katana.
The good thing about this knife is that it comes super sharp and remains sharp for a long time. The knife helps you in effortless cutting, and this 8-inch chef knife is suitable for chopping, dicing, mincing, and slicing any fruit, vegetable, meat, and fish. Moreover, the knife is hand sharpened to 10 degrees to 15 degrees per side.
The feature which I like the most in this knife is its comfortable handle. This 8-inch chef knife features a glass fiber G10 handle that provides excellent grip, superior control, and perfect balance. You can quite comfortably use the knife for a long time without any wrist or palm fatigue.
Another good thing about this knife is that it comes with a beautiful box that makes it perfect for a gift. Moreover, the mini sharpener and a knife sheath inside the box make it more appealing for a gift.
Furthermore, the manufacturer claims that you can use this chef knife risk-free. Also, it comes with 100% satisfaction and a money-back guarantee, which makes it more appealing. Giving a lifetime guarantee is not that easy. Overall, it is a perfect knife, but you should keep the following points in mind if you want to use it for a long time:
- Never wash it in the dishwasher.
- Do not cut on hard surfaces like glass, stone, or other hard surfaces.
- Don’t try to poke, separate, or pry frozen foods.
- Also, don’t cut through bone.
- Sharpen the knife after some time to maintain the sharp edge.
Specifications
- Brand: FANTECK
- Color: Blue
- Blade Length: 8-inch
- Blade Steel: VG10 steel
- Blade Angle: 10-15° per side
- Handle: Glass Fibre G10 handle
- Rockwell Hardness: 62+ HRC
- Item Weight: 0.53-pound
- Item Dimensions: 13.11 (L) x 1.77 (W) x 1.02 (H) inches
- Price range: 55$ – 65$
2. KYOKU Daimyo Series – Beautiful design
KYOKU is another well-known brand of knives. The construction of Kyoku knives is unique, which results in a harder, thinner, and sharper blade than western knives. The Daimyo series is one of the most beautiful and best knives of Kyoku. The design of the knife is so amazing, and the custom wave pattern on the knife makes it more beautiful.
It comes with an 8-inch blade that is expertly constructed from 67 layers of Japanese VG10 steel. The VG10 is good steel that offers long-term durability and amazing edge retention. Moreover, the VG10 steel contains cobalt that increases the hardness of the steel.
This knife comes with a cutting core at 50 to 60 HRC, which means that the knife features a super sharp sharpness. This knife is great for everyday kitchen tasks. You can effortlessly slice through fish, fruits, meat, and vegetables with the help of this sharp knife.
Also, the weight of this chef knife is light. It is perfectly balanced because of its full tang construction. The full tang of the knife makes cutting tasks much easier. Moreover, an ergonomic bolster in the knife makes cutting much safer and easier.
The good thing about this knife is that it features an ergonomic G10 handle. The G10 handle is smooth and safely fits in your hand. You can comfortably grip the knife for extended hours without any fatigue. This knife is perfect for home cooks as well as for professional cooks.
Specifications
- Brand: KYOKU
- Construction Type: Forged
- Blade Length: 8-inch
- Blade Steel: Japanese VG10 steel
- Blade Edge: Plain
- Blade Angle: 8-12° per side
- Handle: G10 handle
- Rockwell Hardness: 58 to 60 HRC
- Item Weight: 1.4-pound
- Item Dimensions: 13.1 (L) x 1 (W) x 2.2 (H) inches
3. Enso Chef’s Knife – Perfect for right and left-handed use
Enso is one of the best knife brands in the market. They have been constructing chef’s knives since 1932 in Seki city, Japan. They have constructed many knives, and their knives are well-known because of their amazing durability and features. Enso chef knife is one of the best Enso knives.
Enso HD chef knife comes with an 8-inch blade, with an overall knife length of 0.375-inch. The blade of the knife is made from 37 layers of VG10 stainless steel that offers excellent edge retention. Moreover, the knife’s blade has a hammered or sashimi finish that looks beautiful, and also it hides the scratches.
The good thing about this knife is that it is heat treatable to a 61 degrees. This means that the knife comes super sharp, and also it remains sharp for a long time. This chef knife is perfect in all its aspects.
The feature which I like the most in this knife is its beautiful and durable handle. The knife features a black canvas micarta handle with three stainless steel rivets, an end cap, and a bolster. Also, the handle comes with full tang construction that offers additional durability, strength, and balance.
The other great thing about the knife’s handle is that it comes with a double bevel edge for both left and right-handed use. Moreover, the handle is comfortable to grip, and you can quite comfortably grip the knife for a long time without any fatigue.
Overall, it is a perfect knife for any cook. This knife will perfectly do your cutting-related tasks whether you are a professional cook or a home cook. I highly recommend this chef knife to all cooks.
Specifications
- Brand: Enso
- Blade Length: 8-inch
- Blade Steel: Japanese VG10 stainless steel
- Blade Edge: Plain
- Blade Finish: Hammered
- Blade Angle: 12° per side
- Handle: Black Canvas Micarta Handle
- Rockwell Hardness: 61 HRC
- Item Weight: 0.52-pound
- Dishwasher Safe: No
4. Ytuomzi Kitchen Knife – Best knife for daily kitchen tasks
Ytuomzi makes high-quality knives. Their knives are great for everyday kitchen tasks. This kitchen knife features 33 layers of Damascus steel on each side, which together form a 67-layered blade. Furthermore, it features an 8-inch blade that is made from high-quality Japanese VG10 stainless steel.
The VG10 steel is great for knives as it offers amazing edge retention, wear resistance, stain resistance, and long-term durability. Additionally, the blade comes with a cutting angle of 13-16°, which makes it super sharp.
The knife is sharp enough to handle almost all your tasks. You can quite easily slice or chop meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, etc., with this knife because of its super sharp blade. The good thing about a knife’s blade is that it remains sharp for a long time. This knife will be perfect for home kitchens as well as restaurant kitchens.
The feature which I like in this knife is its comfortable handle. This kitchen knife features a black G10 handle that is perfectly balanced and offers an excellent grip. You can use the knife for a long time without any fatigue. Moreover, the handle of the knife will fit easily in your hand, no matter what the size of your hand is.
The good thing about this knife is that it comes with a beautiful box that makes it perfect for a gift to parents, wife, husband, grandparents, favorite chef, or many more. Overall, it is a perfect knife for daily kitchen tasks.
Specifications
- Brand: Ytuomzi
- Blade Length: 8-inch
- Construction Type: Forged
- Blade Steel: VG10 stainless steel
- Blade Angle: 13-16° per side
- Handle: Black G10 Handle
- Rockwell Hardness: 62 HRC
- Item Weight: 1.13-pound
- Package Dimensions: 15.39 (L) x 3.62 (W) x 1.42 (H) inches
5. Samior GD035 Small Slim Folding Pocket Flipper Knife – Perfect for EDC
Samior is another well-known brand for folding Pocket knives. They have been making folding and slim pocket knives since 2015. Samior has introduced many amazing features like sharp plain edges with versatile blade shapes, slender handles, and one-handed opening capability.
GD035 is one of the best Samior folding knives. Moreover, it is the slimmest knife on our list and one of the slimmest knives in the market. This knife features a 3.5-inch blade that is made with a VG10 Damascus stainless steel blade. The VG10 Damascus steel offers amazing edge retention and long-term durability.
Furthermore, the blade of the knife comes sharp (not that much sharp) right out of the box and remains sharp for a long time. The good thing about a knife’s blade is that it can be folded when you are not using it. This makes it perfect for everyday carry. You can safely carry it in your pocket like a pen with the help of a deep titanium pocket clip.
The knife also has a ball-bearing pivot and flipper that helps you in opening the knife’s blade quite comfortably. The feature which I like the most in this knife is its handle. The Samior GD035 features a titanium handle that offers a safe and secure grip. Moreover, the knife’s handle also looks beautiful when you hold the knife in your hand.
I highly recommend this knife to you because of its Lifetime warranty against any defects in craftsmanship or materials.
Specifications
- Brand: Samior
- Color: Grey
- Blade Length: 3.5 Inches
- Blade Steel: VG10 Damascus stainless steel
- Blade Edge: Plain edge
- Handle: Titanium Handle
- Rockwell Hardness: 62 HRC
- Item Weight: 1.4-pound
- Item Dimensions: 7.95 (L) x 0.4 (W) x 0.4 (H) inches
Conclusion
To conclude here, VG10 is great steel as it offers great wear resistance, toughness, corrosion resistance, hardness, and edge retention. It is an excellent choice for knives. If you are a knifemaker and want to make knives for a humid environment, then go for VG10 steel.
VG10 steel knives are good for a humid environment. If you are a camper, fisherman, or hunter, I’ll suggest you buy a VG10 steel knife as it will work perfectly in a humid environment. Furthermore, if you are a home cook or a restaurant cook, VG10 steel knives will also work perfectly for you. VG10 steel knives are best for any cook.
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