Takefu / Japan

SG2

Powder Metallurgy Stainless Steel59–62 HRCPowder Metallurgy (PM)

Composition

Core alloying elements define the baseline trade-off between wear resistance, corrosion behavior, and toughness.

Material Overview

SG2 (also known as R2 or SGPS) is a Japanese powder metallurgy stainless steel produced by Takefu Special Steel. It is widely used in premium kitchen knives due to its extremely fine carbide structure, which allows for very sharp edges and excellent cutting performance. SG2 offers strong wear resistance and good corrosion resistance, while remaining relatively more manageable to sharpen compared to ultra-high-vanadium steels. It is especially popular in high-end Japanese cutlery.

Performance Radar

Use four core metrics to understand the usable operating envelope of this steel at a glance.

Edge Retention

Toughness

Corrosion Resistance

Sharpenability

Edge Retention

9.0

Toughness

7.0

Corrosion Resistance

9.0

Sharpenability

6.0

Advantages

Excellent edge retention
Very fine grain structure for razor-sharp edges
Good corrosion resistance
High hardness capability
Smooth cutting performance

Disadvantages

Moderate toughness compared to newer PM steels
More difficult to sharpen than basic stainless steels
Higher cost due to premium manufacturing process
Not ideal for heavy impact use

At A Glance

SG2 is a high-end Japanese powder metallurgy stainless steel known for excellent edge retention, fine grain structure, and strong cutting performance in premium kitchen and EDC knives.