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. Hitachi Metals (now Proterial), Japan 🇯🇵
"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. Hitachi Metals (now Proterial), Japan 🇯🇵
ATS34 ATS-34
Hardness
Rockwell C Hardness(HRC) measures how resistant a steel is to permanent deformation. For kitchen knives:
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.
60 to 61
HRC
555759616365+
ATS-34 is a stainless blade steel in Proterial's YSS range. Proterial describes it as a popular stainless blade steel for custom knives and high-quality cutlery tools. Proterial lists 14.00% chromium and 4.00% molybdenum, keeps its carbon and other figures closed, and lists hardening hardness as over 59 HRC. Stainless steel, strictly, rusts less; wash and dry the knife after use.
We list ATS-34 in the Kisuke x Xinguo line and in Hatsukokoro's Ginga Damascus and Hayabusa Sanmai knives.
We list ATS-34 in the Kisuke x Xinguo line and in Hatsukokoro's Ginga Damascus and Hayabusa Sanmai knives.
Composition
ATS34 Element Composition
Compare with
ATS34
—
14.0%
10.5%
7.0%
3.5%
0
C
1.0%
Cr
14.0%
V
0.4%
Mo
4.0%
Mn
0.4%
Si
0.5%
P
0.03%
S
0.03%
C — Carbon
Cr — Chromium
V — Vanadium
Mo — Molybdenum
Mn — Manganese
Si — Silicon
P — Phosphorus
S — Sulfur
Typical values from third-party sources.
Hardness
60–61 HRC
555759616365+
ATS34 Composition
What's in ATS34
What each element does in your knife.
| Element | Composition | What it does in your knife |
|---|---|---|
| CrChromium | 14.0% | Raises corrosion resistance; at roughly 13%+ free chromium the steel qualifies as stainless. Also improves hardenability and wear. |
| MoMolybdenum | 4.0% | Improves hardenability and toughness, boosts corrosion resistance, and helps the steel hold hardness under heat. |
Composition per Proterial's representative analysis (https://www.proterial.com/e/yss/search/ats34.html; fetched 2026-09-21). Proterial publishes only chromium and molybdenum for ATS-34, as typical values, and marks every other element not disclosed. Any other element values on this page come from third-party sources, not Proterial.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes ATS-34, and is it stainless?
Published by K&S Education Desk; staff review pending
Knives in ATS34
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 Chuka Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi Finish 180mm w Knife Guard
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 Gyuto Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi 210mm w Knife Guard
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 Gyuto Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi 240mm w Knife Guard
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 K tip Gyuto Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi 210mm w Knife Guard
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 Honesuki Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi Finish 150mm w Knife Guard
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 Bunka Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi Finish 180mm w Knife Guard
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 Sujihiki Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi 270mm w Knife Guard
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 Sujihiki Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi 240mm w Knife Guard
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 K tip Gyuto Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi 240mm w Knife Guard
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 Petty Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi Finish 180mm w Knife Guard
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Kisuke Manaka
Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 Petty Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi Finish 150mm w Knife Guard
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Yoshihiro Yauji
Hatsukokoro Ginga ATS34 Damascus Bunka 180mm
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Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Hayabusa ATS34 Sanmai K-tip Gyuto 240mm
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Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Hayabusa ATS34 Sanmai Petty 150mm
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Hatsukokoro
Hatsukokoro Hayabusa ATS34 Sanmai Bunka 180mm
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Yoshihiro Yauji
Hatsukokoro Ginga ATS34 Damascus Gyuto 210mm
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Yoshihiro Yauji
Hatsukokoro Ginga ATS34 Damascus Gyuto 240 mm
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Yoshihiro Yauji
Hatsukokoro Ginga ATS34 Damascus Petty 150mm Dyed Birch
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Yoshihiro Yauji
Hatsukokoro Ginga ATS34 Damascus Santoku 180mm
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Yoshihiro Yauji