Macro view of Japanese shears hanging on a timber rack.
Photo by Nikolaos Dimou via Pexels

Steel summaries (tap through for full guides)

Steel Quick summary Suggested uses
440C Value-tier stainless (58–60 HRC). Forgiving and affordable. Apprentices, backups, blunt cutting
VG-10 Japan’s everyday alloy (60–62 HRC). Balanced glide. Mixed wet/dry salon work
ZA-18 VG-10 upgrade (61–63 HRC). Better corrosion resistance, longevity. Colour-heavy salons, stylists moving up
ATS-314 Hitachi cobalt stainless (62–64 HRC). Silky precision. Slide/point work, educators
Cobalt alloys Premium cobalt-enriched steels. Smooth, rigid glide. Premium daily drivers, ergonomic handles
Nano Powder Metal Powder metallurgy (62–64 HRC). Ultra-low drag. Dry cutting specialists, premium demos
Powder Damascus Powder core + Damascus cladding. Performance + aesthetics. Luxury services, presentation-ready kits

More comparisons

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