Steel types

Steel type is crucial to scissors’ quality and durability. Only a few scissor brands use the renowned and solid Hitachi steel, which is considered the best in the world. Many poor quality scissors are painted to cover up the nickel. Therefore it’s always a good idea to ask your supplier about the steel quality.

Steel for scissor production is categorized and numbered according to ruggedness. See the description below to obtain an overview of the different types and their quality.

420J:
 Typically used for cheap scissors from Germany, Vietnam, Pakistan and Kina. Durability: typically only 2-4 months.

440A:
 Used by cheap Japanese brands. Durability: 6-9 months. Can be sharpened but this will only prolong service life with 4-6 months.

440B:
 Used by medium class Japanese brands. Durability is typically 9-12 months. The steel can be sharpened, and this will typically prolong service life with 9-12 months. The steel can be sharpened up to 5-6 times without compromising quality.

440C: Seen in high-end Japanese scissors. Durability: 12-18 months. The steel can be sharpened, and this will typically prolong service life with 12-18 months. The steel can be sharpened up to 7-8 times without compromising quality.

ATS314:
 Seen in high-end Japanese scissors for dry-cutting. Durability: 12-18 months. The steel can be sharpened, and this will typically prolong service life with 12-18 months. The steel can be sharpened up to 7-8 times without compromising quality.

CS1:
 Used for Japanse luxury scissors. Durability: 12-18 months. The steel can be sharpened, and this will typically prolong service life with 12-18 months. The steel can be sharpened up to 10-12 times without compromising quality.

RSP steel powder:
 Used for Japanse luxury scissors. Durability: 12-18 months. The steel can be sharpened, and this will typically prolong service life with 12-18 months. The steel can be sharpened up to 7-8 times without compromising quality.

Damascus:
 Used for 18-layered laminated luxury scissors from Japan. Durability: 12-18 months. The steel can be sharpened, and this will typically prolong service life with 12-18 months. The steel can be sharpened up to 10-12 times without compromising quality.

Useful facts about steel

The steel number indicates its ruggedness and has nothing to do with any other ingredients used. This means that the 440C steel can easily contain other ingredients that make it cheaper to produce.

Many manufacturers claim to make their scissors from steel type 440C, but they are often a cheap copy with a poor steel quality. These cheap models often consist of 65 % iron, while the remaining 35 per cent are nickel and carbon. The steel from Hitachi Kinzoku in Japan does not contain nickel but has a higher concentration of radium, molybdenum, cobalt, and wolfram.