Stainless
Stainless Steel
"Stainless" means stain-resistant, not stain-proof. In kitchen use, the steel can still discolour or pit if exposed to acidic environments — citrus, vinegar, or salt water — for extended periods. Wash and wipe dry after every use, and avoid leaving the blade soaking in water. With basic care, a stainless knife is very low-maintenance and a great everyday choice. 타케후 특수강, 일본
"Stainless" means stain-resistant, not stain-proof. In kitchen use, the steel can still discolour or pit if exposed to acidic environments — citrus, vinegar, or salt water — for extended periods. Wash and wipe dry after every use, and avoid leaving the blade soaking in water. With basic care, a stainless knife is very low-maintenance and a great everyday choice. 타케후 특수강, 일본
VG5 V금 5호
Hardness
Rockwell C Hardness(HRC) 는 강철이 영구 변형에 얼마나 강한지를 나타냅니다. 주방용 칼의 경우:
55–58 HRC — Soft. Easy to sharpen and forgiving of rough use, but dulls faster. Typical of most German knives.
59–61 HRC — Balanced. Good edge retention with manageable sharpening. Common in mid-range Japanese knives.
62–64 HRC — Hard. Excellent edge retention, holds a very fine edge. Requires more care and a fine stone to sharpen.
65+ HRC — Very hard. Exceptional edge longevity but more brittle — more prone to chipping if used roughly.
Higher is not always better — it depends on how you use and maintain your knife.
55–58 HRC — Soft. Easy to sharpen and forgiving of rough use, but dulls faster. Typical of most German knives.
59–61 HRC — Balanced. Good edge retention with manageable sharpening. Common in mid-range Japanese knives.
62–64 HRC — Hard. Excellent edge retention, holds a very fine edge. Requires more care and a fine stone to sharpen.
65+ HRC — Very hard. Exceptional edge longevity but more brittle — more prone to chipping if used roughly.
Higher is not always better — it depends on how you use and maintain your knife.
58–59
HRC
555759616365+
VG5는 Takefu Special Steel의 스테인리스 칼날용 강재입니다. 같은 회사의 VG2와 비교하면 탄소와 몰리브덴(Mo) 함량이 더 높고, 바나듐(V)이 첨가되어 탄화물이 더 미세해집니다. Takefu는 VG5를 가정용 주방 도구용 강재로도 소개하고 있습니다.
Composition
VG5 Element Composition
Compare with
VG5
—
14.0%
10.5%
7.0%
3.5%
0
C
0.75%
Cr
14.0%
V
0.15%
Mo
0.3%
C — Carbon
Cr — Chromium
V — Vanadium
Mo — Molybdenum
Typical values from third-party sources.
Hardness
58–59 HRC
555759616365+
VG5 Composition
What's in VG5
What each element does in your knife.
| Element | Composition | What it does in your knife |
|---|---|---|
| CrChromium | 13.0–15.0% | Raises corrosion resistance; at roughly 13%+ free chromium the steel qualifies as stainless. Also improves hardenability and wear. |
| CCarbon | 0.7–0.8% | The primary hardening element. More carbon means a harder edge that holds longer — but past a point it trades away toughness and rust resistance. |
| MoMolybdenum | 0.2–0.4% | Improves hardenability and toughness, boosts corrosion resistance, and helps the steel hold hardness under heat. |
| NiNickel | ≤ 0.25% | Improves toughness and ductility without sacrificing hardness, and adds a small boost to corrosion resistance. |
| CuCopper | ≤ 0.25% | A minor player in knife steel — a small lift to corrosion resistance, and often present only as a residual rather than a deliberate addition. |
| VVanadium | 0.1–0.2% | Forms extremely hard vanadium carbides for superior edge retention, and refines the grain for a finer, tougher edge. |
Composition from zknives (K&S steel dataset) reference material. These ranges come from the K&S steel composition dataset, which is derived from zknives; maker figures are cited separately only when they are used on the page.
