Aogami Super Blue steel is considered to be the best carbon steel for knife making if you want insanely sharp knives. If you are on the hunt for super sharp then super blue is probably where you need to be looking.
Japanese steels are commonly known by the colour that the label wrapped around the steel happens to be (white, blue, super blue). In this case it's super blue steel, also known asAogami Super Blue. This is considered to be just about the best mix found for a high carbon steel for knife making.
Carbon steels can deliver amazing levels of sharpness and Super Blue is considered to be about as good as it can get. Easy to sharpen and giving a silky smooth cut that we've struggled to top.
In the quest for the "perfect knife steel" there are always compromises. In the case of Super Blue there are a few to consider. It can chip which is why it is often wrapped in a softer stainless steel to give it more support. Knives made from it are built for their cutting ability not for abuse, you wouldn't go offroading in a Ferrari so ensure you are buying it for the right reasons.
It will discolour and take a patina through use as it oxidises, it does not affect the performance of the knife but not everyone likes this. We see it as the knife taking on a unique character all of its own so it's fair to say we like it! Again this is why it is often laminated in stainless steel to protect the cutting edge.
There are other un-seen compromises too, Super Blue steel is difficulty to work for the blacksmith. This leads to more ruined or unusable blades which pushes up the cost of those blades that are finally finished. This accounts for the increased cost of these blades.
Summing up, it's about as good as carbon steels get, allows for an insanely sharp edge but need some attention to ensure you keep getting the most out of that edge. For a more robust/forgiving carbon steel take a look at White Carbon Steel.
Super blue ranges we currently stock include Sakai Takayuki Aogami Super Blue, Masakage Koishi and Fujiwara Denka.
FAQs
Posted by Steven Tuckey on February 17, 2023. Aogami steel, also known as "blue paper steel", is made by (Hitachi Metals Ltd.) in Japan. It is a high-carbon steel known for its excellent edge retention, toughness, and ability to take a very fine edge.
Does Aogami Super steel rust? ›
Aogami Super is classified as carbon steel, which has the property of rusting. (Stainless steel also can rust, but carbon steel rusts more easily.) So it is necessary to wash and dry after use to prevent it from rusting. If it gets rusty, you can remove it with a cleanser.
Is blue super steel good? ›
Aogami Super Blue steel is considered to be the best carbon steel for knife making if you want insanely sharp knives. If you are on the hunt for super sharp then super blue is probably where you need to be looking.
What is the hardness of aogami super steel? ›
Aogami Super, or Blue Super Steel, is composed of all the chemical components that make up Blue Steel #1, but with the addition of molybdenum and vanadium. These help increase the corrosion resistance and strength, respectively for this Japanese steel. It has a practical hardness of 61 to 65 HRC.
Is blue steel better than steel? ›
The positives of using blue steel over stainless steel and carbon steel are that it provides the best of both worlds. Blue steel is more flexible than stainless steel allowing professionals to have a nuance to their profession. Blue steel is also more rust-resistant than carbon steel.
Is blue steel a real metal? ›
Blue steel is more or less white steel with added Tungsten and Chromium, which create more wear-resistance and decrease reactivity/corrosion respectively. The knives of the Denka line by Fujiwara using blue super steel are amongst the hardest on the market, therefore require infrequent sharpening.
Is blue steel hard to sharpen? ›
These contribute to the excellent edge retention, flexibility and toughness Blue Steel #1 is known for. On the other hand, due to its very high wear resistance, while it can maintain its sharpness for a long time it also can be very challenging to sharpen.
Is blue steel better than carbon steel? ›
Both Carbon Steel and Blue Carbon Steel will yield perfect sears and can withstand high heat. However, Carbon Steel is considered “Blue” if it has undergone the annealing process. As a result, Blue Carbon Steel is slightly more corrosion resistant than general Carbon Steel.
Is Aogami steel brittle? ›
It has very good edge sharpness and excellent edge retention, but is also capable of attaining high hardness without being brittle. Consequently, many knife enthusiasts rate Aogami Super as one of the very best High Carbon Steels in the world.
What is the difference between aogami 2 and aogami super? ›
Aogami 1 & 2 are similar to Shirogami but have added tungsten and chromium which adds to the toughness of the steel. Aogami Super has added manganese and vanadium, increasing the hardness and edge retention further. The added metals also make Aogami super slightly more resistant to corrosion.
Blue steel is white steel with added chromium and tungsten. Blue #2 has the same amount of carbon as white #2, and blue #1 the same as white #1. Blue super has a bit more carbon, chromium, and tungsten than blue #1.
What does aogami mean? ›
“Aogami” is an alloy steel made of Shirogami (or called “White Paper Steel”, a carbon steel with low content of impurities), mixed with tungsten and chromium, which means Aogami is a steel made by the hands of human.
Why is Japanese steel so strong? ›
The process of folding metal to improve strength and remove impurities is frequently attributed to specific Japanese smiths in legends. The folding removes impurities and helps even out the carbon content, while the alternating layers combine hardness with ductility to greatly enhance the toughness.
Why is Japanese steel so hard? ›
Japanese blade sharpness is a result of their higher carbon content – the more carbon in the steel leads to a harder steel which can be sharpened to a finer edge. Western high carbon blades usually have less than 0.8% carbon – making them relatively softer.
Is Shirogami better than Aogami? ›
With Aogami, Tungsten and Chromium have been added to increase durability and corrosion resistance respectively. The added durability also makes the blade tougher to sharpen which is why many chefs actually prefer Shirogami kitchen knives.
What type of steel is Aogami? ›
Aogami / Blue Paper Steel
It is a version of White Paper Steel; a very pure type of steel taken from iron-rich river sand with only carbon as an alloy. White Paper Steel is similar to the traditional Tamahagene steel that was/is used to create Japanese swords.
What does it mean to have blue steel? ›
Among Zoolander's famous poses is a look called Blue Steel. It involves pursed lips and sucked-in cheeks made with the eyes fixed on the camera. Stiller explained that he based on the expression after one he made himself in the mirror in an effort to look his best.
What is blue steel cookware? ›
Blue Carbon Steel is a type of cooking material that combines the best qualities of Stainless Steel and Cast Iron. It's nearly half the weight of Cast Iron while providing all of its non stick properties, and has the heat control and heat retention of Stainless Steel.
What does it mean when steel is blue? ›
Bluing, sometimes spelled as blueing, is a passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust using a black oxide coating. It is named after the blue-black appearance of the resulting protective finish.
