Kei Kobayashi SG2 Damascus Santoku 170mm, Ebony Handle Horn Ferrule

SG2 (Super Gold 2, which Takefu writes as SPG2) is Takefu Special Steel's own blade steel, made by powder metallurgy. Takefu says it meets all four of what it calls the major requirements for a blade: high hardness, high toughness, good wear resistance and excellent corrosion resistance.

Takefu gives its hardness as HRC 62 or more and does not publish its composition. As of 18 October 2026, 291 of the knives we list have SG2 in their title.

Neither is objectively better, it just depends on whether you value stainless convenience or a laser-sharp carbon edge. Go with SG2 if you want a knife that holds a screaming edge without any babysitting. Choose AS if you are chasing the thinnest possible edge and don't mind wiping the blade down after every use.

SG2 is a powdered stainless steel from Takefu, rated at 62 HRC or more. It is tough and resists corrosion, which is why I reach for it when working with acidic foods. Aogami Super is high carbon, and Proterial gives it a hardening hardness of over 60 HRC. It sharpens to a hair-whittling edge that lasts slightly longer than SG2, but it will rust if you neglect it.

We can't confirm that from a steelmaker. SG2 (Super Gold 2, which Takefu writes as SPG2) is Takefu Special Steel's own blade steel, made by powder metallurgy. Takefu does not publish its composition and gives its hardness as HRC 62 or more.

As of 18 October 2026, we found no steelmaker page for a steel called R2. Some knives on our shelf are listed as SG2/R2: six as of 18 October 2026, from Kurosaki, Shiro Kamo and Yoshimi Kato.