Has anyone tried any knives with YK-30 steel?

This might help, did some cross referencing for you. Seems like it is comparable to AISI O2.

YK30
C:*1.05; Cr:*0.50; Mn:*1.00;*
Ni:*0.25; P:*0.03; S:*?;*
Si:*0.40;*
Maker: Daido - Japan (JP)

Notes:
By Japanese listings, YK30 is JIS SKS93 steel, however, Daido also lists it as AISI O2 steel. CRKT uses Daido YK30 in some of their knives.

Cross-References:

Standard:
JIS - SKS93

Proprietary:
Aichi - SK301
Hitachi - YCS3
NKK - NKG93
Nachi Fujikoshi - SK3M
Nippon Koshuha - K3M
Sanyo - QK3M

SK93
C:*1.00-1.10; Cr:*0.20-0.60; Mn:*0.80-1.10;*
P:*0.030; S:*0.030; Si:*0.50;*

Standard: JIS (Japan)

Notes:
Low alloy steel, for shear knives and dies. Similar to AISI O2 tool steel, however thereis no Vanadium in the specification.

Cross-References:

Proprietary:
Aichi - SK301
Daido - YK30
Hitachi - YCS3
NKK - NKG93
Nachi Fujikoshi - SK3M
Nippon Koshuha - K3M
Sanyo - QK3M

AISI O2
C:*0.85-0.95; V:*0.30; Cr:*0.35;*
Mo:*0.30; Mn:*1.40-1.80; Ni:*0.30;*
P:*0.03; S:*0.03; Si:*0.50;*
Cu:*0.25;*
Standard: AISI (US)

Notes:
Oil hardening tool steel. Working hardness up to 63-65HRC. Makes pretty decent performer for light/medium use knives at that hardness.


How it performs in real world scenarios, I don't particularly know. Though you should atleast have a ballpark now.
 
Sounds great for the Hisshou design that CRKT used it for. I'd be concerned about chipping though, as it looks like the Cr would be bound up in large carbides--though this may be counteracted by the softening effects of the Ni. This requires meditation... lol
 
Also I'm going to out on a limb here and assume it's not for beating and abusing, but should I miss my target and hit a block of wood, what would happen to the edge?
 
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