Aogami #1 (Blue Paper Steel #1) is one of the highest-performance traditional carbon steels produced by Hitachi. It is based on Shirogami (White Steel) with the addition of tungsten and chromium to improve wear resistance and edge retention. Compared to Aogami #2, Aogami #1 contains more carbon, allowing it to achieve higher hardness and longer edge life. It is highly regarded by Japanese bladesmiths for its ability to take an extremely fine edge and maintain exceptional cutting performance. However, its increased hardness comes with reduced toughness and very low corrosion resistance, requiring careful maintenance. It is widely used in premium Japanese kitchen knives and traditional woodworking tools.
Comparable Steels:
Aogami #1 > Aogami #2 in edge retention and hardness
Aogami #1 ≈ CTS-XHP in cutting longevity
Aogami #1 < ZDP-189 in wear resistance
Aogami #1 > 52100 in sharpness potential
Aogami #1 < CPM MagnaCut in corrosion resistance and overall versatility