Shirogami 1 steel, another steel cast by Hitachi Steelworks, also known as Shiro-ko 1 or simply Shiro-ko. It is a high-carbon steel with a degree of purity subject to restrictive standards. It contains more carbon than Shirogami 2 steel, which makes it even harder, which, however, makes it difficult to work with. With increasing hardness, the sharpness increases, but also the brittleness. A skilled user of knives will surely appreciate razor-sharp blades with incredibly long sharpness. As with all carbon steels, proper maintenance is essential with the prospect of corrosion.
Composition:
- Carbon: 1,25-1,35%
- Manganese: 0,20-0,30%
- Silicon: 0,10-0,20%
- Phosphorus: 0,025%
- Sulfur: 0,004%