What is OU31 steel?

nozh2002

nozh2002

BANNED
Joined
Jun 9, 2003
Messages
5,736
Anybody what is Japanese PM OU31 steel? It used by some Japanese knifemakers.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Vassili, I googled the phrase with no quotes:
OU31 steel

On the third page of hits, I found a reference that I could not open. It was on the Aichi steel website. So it might be one of their steels. I've never had much luck navigating the Aichi English version website. Can't seem to get to any steel data. Maybe you will have more luck. Here is the reference I found.

刃物に最適な鋼は？- [ Translate this page ]ttp://www.aichi-steel.co.jp/EIKAN/j.aichi/sebun03.html ... 349 ：名も無きマテリアルさん ：03/12/28 00:33: 高周波が作っているOU31について聞きたいんで ...
proxy.bbsnews.jp/2ch/material/1041738500/ - 224k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
 
although, i do not know japese, the article contain some chinese word .
rought meaning :
1)similar to m2 ,with hrs63-64
2)similar to m2 & d2 in the aspects of dispersion of carbide & cutting strength .
3) for the the toughness,it is higer than d3 in 3 times .
4)excellent of anti-weariness.
5)good for making knives
 
Hi Vassili.

We tested some about 10 years ago. As I remember, the special ingredient they were using was the addtion of copper. Our tests were OK. We were also testing and using ATS-55 (Custom made by Hitachi for Spyderco) and VG-10 at the time. Our main Seki maker said that he thought that the OU-31 material was more brittle than he liked for a production steel. Maybe we can play with some if the "Mule Team" project works out.

sal
 
Sal, could you confirm who makes the steel?
Thanks,

Knarf
 
Hi Knarf,

I'll see if I can dig it up, it was some time ago. I have a knife and some steel samples somewhere as well. It was a foundry we'd not worked with.

sal
 
Thank you, sir.

I think I'd give a pretty penny to have a look in your store room!
 
This is what I have so far:

Distributed by KYORITSO KOZAI
Produced by Nippon Koshuha Steel.

Micro fine steel embodies what many knife-makers have long wanted. It
is a steel developed by seeking after the bounds of quality of knife steel
with "homogeneous", "fine" and "clean" microstructure, using carefully
selected materials, and joining our comprehensive technologies.

Features
1. High hardness equivalent to M2: HRC64.
2. Better machinability then M2 or D2. Good workability by dispersing
fine carbode
3. Toughness more then 3 times higher then that of D2, acheved by
compounding special alloy and dispersing carbide.
4. Unrivaled wear resistnce achived by deposition of dence special
carbide.
5. Outstanding heat treatment properties. Hardening temperature
same as that of 13Cr and 18Cr stainless steels.
6. Sharpness equivalent to that of Japanese swords but MICRO FINE STEEL
does not break or bend, and cuts well for a long time.
-------------------------------------------------
From Jeff Hall post:
"It is a Japanese steel with .9 Carbon, 8.5 Cr, 2 Mo. Also has a sprinkle of Vanadium and a dash of (3%) Cobalt."

By I rater be interested in YXR7 matrix high speed steel (if this one is not the same).

Japanese have so many steels which far ahead of what Crucible capable of. Or may be it is Japanese knifemakers who are ahead of US knifemakers who can not produce knives from Crucible supersteels...

I wish Crucible start making laminated blanks with CPM S125V inside and CPM 154 outside so poor knife producers will not spend to much money on belts...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I have had my Kiku knives(3) now for over 5 years. They are all in OU31 steel and I have found the steel to be hard and chip resistant. One of my knives is a Kiku Kiba which is a combat knife with a very fine thin blade with a sharp fine point. Just a few months after I had bought that knife I dropped it from 4.5 feet it on a plain concrete floor by accident. It hit the floor vertically point down and I thought that is the end of the sharp point. I picked it up and the point was not at all damaged. I have given these knives some rough work through the years I have had them and never had a chip problem. I have 3 ZDP 189 kitchen knives and they chip much easier than OU 31. I also have 3 kitchen knives with R2 steel and they chip very easily but OU 31 is the king amongst these 3 steels in actual everyday use.

Take care
Brian
 
OU-31 tool steel blade, which has exceptional edge holding. OU-31 is a Japanese PM (powdered metallurgical) steel with micro fine crystalline structure that embodies many of the best attributes needed for knives
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top