Crows Nest store now open from Friday to Tuesday, 10am till 6pm.

Carbon Steel Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is reactive — it will rust quickly if not properly cared for. Always wash immediately after use, dry thoroughly, and apply a thin coat of food-safe oil (camellia, mineral) before storage. Over time it develops a patina that offers some natural protection and, for many users, becomes part of the knife's character. Rewarding to use, but not recommended if you want a "wash and forget" knife. Hitachi Special Steel, Japan 🇯🇵

Blue 1 / Aogami #1 青一鋼

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.
61–64 HRC
555759616365+
Blue Steel No.1, also known as Aogami #1 or Yasugi #1 Blue Steel, is a premium high carbon steel from Hitachi Metals Ltd, celebrated for its exceptional edge retention and toughness. This steel is an upgrade from Blue Steel No.2, enriched with higher carbon and tungsten content, making it a favorite for high-grade Japanese traditional single-bevel knives. It's known for being easy to sharpen, achieving a very fine edge that lasts. Despite its susceptibility to rust, with proper care and maintenance, including regular wiping and drying, it can develop a protective patina that minimizes rusting. Blue Steel No.1 is highly regarded among knife makers for its ability to achieve a mirror finish and maintain a sharp edge over extended periods, offering an outstanding balance of performance and durability.
Composition

Blue 1 / Aogami #1 Element Composition

Compare with
    Blue 1 / Aogami #1
    —
    1.5% 1.1% 0.8% 0.4% 0
    C Carbon 1.3%
    Primary hardening element. Raises hardness and wear resistance — but too much increases brittleness and corrosion susceptibility. As a reference: German 1.4112 (~0.5%) sits at the low end; VG-10 (~1.0%) is a common mid-range; SG2 (1.25–1.45%) and ZDP-189 (~3.0%) represent high and extreme ends respectively.
    C
    1.3%
    Cr Chromium 0.3%
    Raises corrosion resistance; 13%+ qualifies steel as stainless. Also improves hardenability and wear resistance. In kitchen use, higher chromium levels contribute to a slight drag or sticking sensation when cutting — a trade-off for the rust resistance it provides.
    Cr
    0.3%
    W Tungsten 1.5%
    Forms hard carbides for wear resistance and edge retention. Gives the steel hardness even at elevated temperatures.
    W
    1.5%
    Mn Manganese 0.2%
    Aids hardenability and strength. Acts as a deoxidiser during smelting. Excess can reduce toughness.
    Mn
    0.2%
    Si Silicon 0.1%
    Strengthens the steel matrix and acts as a deoxidiser. Improves hardness and resistance to oxidation.
    Si
    0.1%
    P Phosphorus 0.025%
    Impurity from the smelting process. Even small amounts cause brittleness — steelmakers keep this as low as possible.
    P
    0.025%
    S Sulfur 0.004%
    Impurity that reduces toughness and promotes brittleness. Intentionally added only in free-machining steels.
    S
    0.004%
    C — Carbon Cr — Chromium W — Tungsten Mn — Manganese Si — Silicon P — Phosphorus S — Sulfur
    Hardness 61–64 HRC
    555759616365+
    Steel
    Blue 1 / Aogami #1
    Category
    Carbon
    Manufacturer
    Hitachi Special Steel, Japan 🇯🇵
    Hardness
    61–64 HRC

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    Our Locations

    Visit Us In Person

    Experience our knives hands-on at any of our three showrooms across Australia.

    St Peters

    HQ
    Unit 2, 2 Bishop St
    St Peters, NSW 2044
    (02) 8234 8818 sales@knivesandstones.com.au
    Mon–Fri 10am–5pm Closed weekends

    Enter via Bishop St. Limited parking — please find nearby street parking.

    Get directions

    Crows Nest

    Open Weekends
    107 West St
    Crows Nest, NSW 2065
    (02) 8234 8848
    Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun 10am–6pm Closed Wed & Thu
    Get directions

    Canberra

    Kakumei
    Unit 3, 32 Lonsdale St
    Braddon, ACT 2612
    (02) 8234 8808
    Wed–Thu 10:30am–4:30pm Fri–Sat 10:30am–6pm Sun 10:30am–4:30pm Closed Mon & Tue
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