What is fallkniven VG 10 steel??

You can find the composition on the Fallkniven or Spyderco websites. It is a fine-grained stainless containing vanadium. It is tougher than some stainless and is easy to sharpen to a razor edge. I like it a lot. It is a Japanese alloy. It is somewhat similar to AUS-10. I think of it as sort of an upgrade from AUS-8. It has that same ability to easily take a true razor edge, but it is harder.

 

Fallkniven's website has some useful information on VG-10. It is similar to several other high-end stainless steels but has the additional element cobalt, which supposedly enhances the qualities of some of the other alloying elements. It comes closer to a very good carbon steel than any other stainless in my experience, having compared it in the field with Carbon V, when skinning out and field dressing a black bear a couple of years ago. I used my F1 and my hunting buddy his CS Elk Skinner, and the VG-10 held its edge just as well but took a little longer to touch up with a diamond hone than the Carbon V.

 

Brief history- VG10 was introduced to the American knife market a few years ago by Spyderco, they first used it in their Moran fixed blade. They learned of it from one of their Japanese manufacturers, apparently it was used in Japan horticultural industry in pruning knifes, etc. Since then Spyderco uses it in many knives, it is viewed a slightly tougher upgrade from ats34 yet with similar edge holding, I believe.
Fallkniven after seeing Spyderco's Moran, tested VG10 and were impressed enough to switch from using Ats34 to VG10. Since their knives are also manufactured in Japane they probably use same or related manufacturer.
Martin

 

The comments above are on the mark. VG-10 is actually my favorite of the newer "exotic" stainless steels because it has better toughness (ability to withstand lateral stress) than some of the others. It has a little less edge retention than the harder and more brittle steels like 154CM but lends itself to things like prying that would be riskier with a harder, more brittle steel. So it makes an outstanding corrosion resistant steel for things like a camp knife or hunting knife. You may not see the real advantages of VG-10 in a small pocket knife but you certainly will appreciate it for what it can do in a larger fixed blade.

Fallkniven is big proponent of VG-10 and I think that has contributed meaningfully to Fallkniven's obvious success in the marketplace. You can't run down to the steel store to buy it because it is available in Japan for the most part. Most VG-10 bladed knives will originate in Japan like Fallkniven or some of the Spydercos mentioned above. Take care.

 

VG-10 is a great steel for edge retention and corrosion resistance but in my experience, it doesn't measure up in the area of scratch resistance.

 

VG-10 is my favorite.

 

VG-10 composition and alternate names.

Summary: Takefu steel. G is for Gold as far as I know. Used by many makers, mainly under that name, supposedly miyabi CMV60 is VG-10 too.

 

Here's a thread you should check out!

 

One thing to consider about Fallkniven's use of VG-10 is that they laminate it for use in some knives like the F1 and S1. For those applications the VG-10 core is surrounded on both sides by a steel of great toughness like 420 HC or something similar. This gives the good edge retention of an exotic steel but with the increased ability to take a pounding that lamination coupled with high toughness steels provides.

I have no experience with their use of it in a pure VG-10 blade, but I give high marks to the laminated blades.

 

VG-10 makes an excellent kitchen knife such as the Shun knives. Easily sharpened with a butcher's steel or ceramic rod.
I have Fallkniven's S-1 which is a very good field knife. That one does scratch but it's
the outer 420 that scratches.

 

I'd be darned curious to know the REAL reason that Fallkniven switched from solid VG10 to VG10 laminate. Was it due to the expensive cost of solid VG10 or does Fallkniven REALLY believe that the laminate version performs better. Only Fallkniven knows......
I watched youtube video of Nutnfancy complaining about edge chipping on the Fallkniven A1 laminate. In theory, there shouldn't be any difference between the solid VG10 and laminate VG10 at the edge.

 

Fallkniven has a link on their website to testing done on a solid VG10 blade vs a laminated one. The test results show a 20% increase in side flex strength.

This supports the claim that laminating a very hard, but potentially more brittle, core metal with a softer but tougher outer layer results in a stronger blade, with the benefit of increased edge holding.

I suspect, and I want to be clear that this is only a guess, that there are also cost benefits in the manfacturing process. Perhaps not direct cost savings on the steel itself, but the softer 420J2 outer layer would be easier and faster to grind and shape the blade. This would reduce labor and abrasives costs.

Kevin