Steel comparison · maker data checked 2026-10-21VG-10 vs SG2
Both are stainless steels made by Takefu Special Steel. VG-10 is conventionally made (1.00% carbon, 15% chromium, plus molybdenum, vanadium and cobalt); SG2 is a powder-metallurgy steel with a higher maker hardness (62 HRC or over vs 60). In Knife Steel Nerds’ CATRA test, SG2 cut 522 mm of card and VG-10 479 mm at similar hardness (61.2 and 61.6 HRC).
Side by side
| VG-10 | SG2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Takefu Special Steel | Takefu Special Steel |
| Type | Stainless | Powder stainless · PM |
| Stainless | Yes | Yes |
| C % | 1.00 | 1.25–1.45 † |
| Si % | — | 0.5 † |
| Mn % | — | 0.4 † |
| Cr % | 15.00 | 14.0–16.0 † |
| Mo % | 1.00 | 2.3–3.3 † |
| V % | 0.25 | 1.8–2.2 † |
| Co % | 1.55 | — |
| Maker HRC | ≥60 | ≥62 |
| CATRA mm | 479 @ 61.6 HRC | 522 @ 61.2 HRC |
Mass %, steelmakers’ published typical or representative values. † retailer values (the maker does not publish them). Maker HRC is the hardening hardness the steelmaker publishes, not the hardness of a finished knife. CATRA: Knife Steel Nerds edge-retention test, total card cut. PM = powder metallurgy.
What the data says
- VG-10’s representative composition from Takefu is 1.00% carbon, 15.00% chromium, 1.00% molybdenum, 0.25% vanadium and 1.55% cobalt. Takefu does not publish the SG2 composition; retailers give about 1.25–1.45% carbon, 14–16% chromium, 2.3–3.3% molybdenum and 1.8–2.2% vanadium.
- On those figures SG2 has more carbon, molybdenum and vanadium than VG-10, and no cobalt. Because the SG2 figures are not from the maker, treat the comparison as approximate.
- SG2 is made by powder metallurgy (atomised powder compacted, sintered, forged and rolled, according to Takefu). VG-10 is not.
- Maker hardness: VG-10 60 HRC or over, SG2 62 HRC or over.
- In Knife Steel Nerds’ CATRA test the two were tested at almost the same hardness — VG-10 at 61.6 HRC and SG2 at 61.2 HRC — and SG2 cut about 9% more card (522 mm vs 479 mm).
- Takefu highlights VG-10’s corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening.
Which should you choose?
| If… | Look at |
|---|---|
| You want the longer CATRA edge-retention result and the higher maker hardness | SG2 |
| You want the steel whose full composition the maker publishes | VG-10 |
| You want the steel the maker describes as easy to sharpen | VG-10 |
The steel is only part of a knife: the knifemaker’s heat treatment, the blade geometry and the edge angle matter as much. See all steels in the Japanese knife steel chart, and if you are ordering from Japan, check the import duty calculator first.
Frequently asked questions
- Is SG2 better than VG-10?
- SG2 has a higher maker hardness (62 HRC or over vs 60) and cut more card in Knife Steel Nerds’ CATRA test (522 mm vs 479 mm). VG-10 is a conventionally made steel whose full composition Takefu publishes, and Takefu highlights its ease of sharpening.
- Are VG-10 and SG2 both stainless?
- Yes. VG-10 has 15% chromium (maker figure) and SG2 about 14–16% (retailer figure).
- Who makes VG-10 and SG2?
- Both are made by Takefu Special Steel in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture.
- Is SG2 the same as R2?
- Shops commonly sell them as the same steel, but we could not confirm this from a primary source.
More comparisons
Sources
- Takefu: V Gold No.10
- Knife Steel Nerds: edge retention of 48 steels (secondary)
- Takefu: Super Gold 2
- Knives and Stones: SG2 / R2 (composition) (secondary)
Checked 2026-10-21. Found a better source or an error? Tell us.