VG-10W (VG10W) Stainless Steel

VG10W is produced by adding Tungsten (W) to VG10 to further enhance the excellent properties of VG10. This steel is developed and manufactured by the Japanese company Takefu Special Steel Co., Ltd. (Fukui Prefecture) for the needs of the knife industry.

Enhanced properties and mechanism of action

Compared to VG10, VG10W (VG-10W) steel has 20% higher toughness / reliability and 25% higher cutting ability, while maintaining the same corrosion resistance.

Tungsten promotes the formation and dispersion of hard, fine carbides, which provide increased wear resistance and ease of sharpening. In addition, the addition of W further improves the material's hardenability. This makes it easy to achieve higher hardness through quenching, which does not degrade even after high-temperature tempering.

The typical hardness range for VG10W is HRC 61-62, which is a high figure for stainless steel and guarantees exceptional edge retention.

Application and chemical composition

This high-quality steel is leading the way in the next generation of the knife industry and is valued for its ideal balance between cutting ability, toughness, and corrosion resistance.

The secret to VG10W's exceptional versatility lies in its balanced alloy base. It inherits a high content of Chromium (≈15%) from VG10 for anti-corrosion protection, as well as Cobalt and Vanadium, which together improve mechanical properties and allow high hardness to be achieved without critical brittleness. The addition of Tungsten (W) is the final touch, enhancing wear resistance and impact performance.

It is used not only for high-end kitchen knives (where long-term sharpness retention is required) but also for knives that perform better in demanding conditions (hunting and tactical models), as well as for machine knives, where it demonstrates its high wear resistance. Manufacturers often use VG10W as the core layer in a Damascus (multi-layered) construction to achieve the most productive cutting edge.

In summary, VG10W is VG-10 with Tungsten, which makes it tougher, more wear-resistant, and allows it to hold an edge better, while maintaining excellent corrosion resistance. It offers one of the best balances of properties among premium stainless steels.