Stainless steel · ProterialGinsan 銀紙3号
Also called: Silver #3 · Gingami #3 · Gin-san · G3
Ginsan is a stainless stainless steel from Proterial (formerly Hitachi Metals): 0.95–1.10% carbon, 13.00–14.50% chromium, and a maker hardening hardness of ≥59 HRC.
Composition
| C | Si | Mn | P | S | Cr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.95–1.10 | ≤0.35 | 0.60–1.00 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.020 | 13.00–14.50 |
Mass %. As published by the steelmaker (typical or representative values). Hardness: ≥59 (hardening hardness).
What the data says
Ginsan (Proterial’s Silver #3, sold as GIN3) is a stainless steel with 0.95–1.10% carbon and 13.00–14.50% chromium. Proterial describes it as a stainless steel with hardness and sharpness comparable to carbon steel, made for kitchen knives and scissors.
Its published hardening hardness is 59 HRC or over. Unlike VG-10 it has no molybdenum, vanadium or cobalt in the maker’s composition.
If you like the idea of a White or Blue steel but do not want to dry the knife after every cut, Ginsan is the Proterial grade aimed at that gap.
Ginsan compared with similar steels
| Steel | Type | C % | Cr % | Maker HRC | CATRA mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ginsan (Silver #3) | Stainless | 0.95–1.10 | 13.00–14.50 | ≥59 | — |
| VG-10 | Stainless | 1.00 | 15.00 | ≥60 | 479 @ 61.6 |
| Shirogami #2 | Carbon | 1.05–1.15 | — | ≥60 | — |
| AUS-10 | Stainless | 0.95–1.10 | 13.00–14.50 | 60 (reference value) | — |
See all 15 steels in the Japanese knife steel chart, or compare up to three at once in the steel explorer.
Care
Ginsan is a stainless steel, so occasional wetness will not rust it the way it rusts a carbon steel, but washing by hand and drying it keeps the edge and handle in good condition.
Buying a Ginsan knife from a shop in Japan? Japanese kitchen knives currently pay about 31% US import duty — use the import duty calculator to compare with a US retailer.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ginsan stainless?
- Yes. Ginsan contains 13.00–14.50% chromium, above the roughly 10.5% that defines a stainless steel.
- How hard is Ginsan?
- Proterial publishes a hardening hardness of ≥59 HRC. The hardness of a finished knife depends on the knifemaker’s heat treatment.
- Who makes Ginsan?
- Ginsan is made by Proterial (formerly Hitachi Metals).
- Ginsan vs VG-10: what is the difference?
- Ginsan: C 0.95–1.10%, Cr 13.00–14.50%, maker hardness ≥59 HRC. VG-10: C 1.00%, Cr 15.00%, maker hardness ≥60 HRC.
Sources
Checked 2026-10-21. Found a better source or an error? Tell us.