VG-10
vg10
A Japanese stainless knife steel that balances edge retention, sharpness, and rust resistance; the default core steel for many mid-range knives.
VG-10 (V金10号, “V Gold No. 10”), made by Takefu Special Steel, is a high-carbon stainless with chromium, vanadium, and a little cobalt and molybdenum. It usually runs around 60 to 61 on the HRC scale, takes a keen edge, holds it reasonably well, and resists rust with almost no care. Most knives use it as a san-mai core clad in softer stainless.
On the stone it can feel slightly less crisp than Ginsan or carbon, and a touch sticky, though the result is fine. It is the most common steel in the roughly USD 100 to 200 Japanese knife bracket and a frequent first-knife recommendation.
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- VG-10 core at 60 HRC takes and holds a keen edge — a long-standing first-knife recommendation
- Stainless cladding and a water-resistant handle make it low maintenance
- Widely regarded as one of the best-value entry points into Japanese knives