VG-10 vs ATS-314: Two Japanese Scissor Steels Compared
What's the difference between VG-10 and ATS-314 scissor steel?
Both are common in Japanese professional shears. Takefu publishes VG10 data (HRC 60 or above); ATS-314 has no public producer datasheet. Neither name tells you which pair stays sharp longer, so compare the maker's stated hardness, the edge and how each pair cuts.
VG10 is made by Takefu Special Steel, which publishes its composition. ATS-314 is sold as a Proterial (formerly Hitachi Metals) steel, as Yasaka’s material page says, but its composition and hardness are not published by the producer. Makers publish their own hardness for each pair, so read those, check the edge type, and use a sharpener who works on that edge.
Updated Sep 2026
| Attribute | VG-10 (V Gold 10) Takefu, Fukui Prefecture, Japan | ATS-314 Japan | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material hardness | ≥60 HRC; Takefu Special Steel; published quench hardness. Mill source | No material figure cited. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Finished-scissor examples | 59 HRC; Jaguar KAMIYU; maker-stated finished-scissor hardness. Model source | No model figure cited. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published composition | Takefu VG-10. Representative producer table figures; stated maxima remain limits. Unreported elements are not zero and these figures are not a lot analysis. Composition source
Elements absent from this table are unreported in this source, not zero. These material figures do not identify the chemistry of an individual finished scissor. Indicative PREN: unavailable. No calculation: N lacks a published point value or two-sided range. Missing values and one-sided limits are not zero. Calculation and limits. | No structured composition source is recorded here. Check the full material entry for its evidence and source limits. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Steel family | Stainless blade steel | Stainless cobalt alloy | ||||||||||||||||||
| Product links | Full entry | Full entry |
Which should you pick?
Pick the pair, not the steel. Compare each maker’s published hardness and edge, try both in your hand, and follow the maker’s service advice. Neither steel name tells you which one will stay sharp longer.