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

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.

Inox ステンレス鋼

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.
57–59 HRC
555759616365+
The Sakai Takayuki Inox line uses stainless steel (“Inox” from inoxydable) designed to offer a practical balance of performance, durability, and low maintenance. Typically hardened to around 57–59 HRC, it takes a sharp edge while remaining easy to sharpen and more forgiving than harder, brittle steels. The stainless composition gives excellent resistance to rust and staining, making it suitable for users who prefer less upkeep compared to traditional carbon steels. While edge retention is moderate and may not match high-end carbon or powder steels, the Inox line excels in everyday kitchen use, especially for home cooks and professionals wanting reliability and ease of care.
Composition

Inox Element Composition

Compare with
    Inox
    —
    13.5% 10.1% 6.8% 3.4% 0
    C Carbon 0.5%
    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
    0.5%
    Cr Chromium 13.5%
    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
    13.5%
    V Vanadium 0.2%
    Forms extremely hard carbides for superior edge retention. Also refines grain structure, improving toughness.
    V
    0.2%
    Mo Molybdenum 0.3%
    Improves hardenability and toughness. Boosts corrosion resistance and helps the steel hold hardness under heat.
    Mo
    0.3%
    C — Carbon Cr — Chromium V — Vanadium Mo — Molybdenum
    Hardness 57–59 HRC
    555759616365+
    Steel
    Inox
    Category
    Stainless
    Hardness
    57–59 HRC

    Knives in Inox

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    St Peters, Sydney

    St Peters

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    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.

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    Crows Nest, Sydney

    Crows Nest

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

    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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