European stainless steel samples from Sandvik and Bohler used in professional scissors manufacturing

The Complete Sandvik and Bohler Scissors Steel Guide Published

· by Marcus Chen

ScissorPedia has published comprehensive guides to European scissors steels from two of the continent’s most important steelmakers: Sandvik/Alleima (Sweden) and Bohler (Austria). These steels deserve the same rigorous documentation that the Japanese VG-10 family, ATS, and SG families receive — they represent a different metallurgical tradition with genuine advantages in specific applications.

Sandvik / Alleima (Sweden)

Sandvik (whose steel division now operates as Alleima following a 2022 demerger) has been producing blade steels since the 19th century. Four grades appear regularly in scissors applications:

12C27 — The classic Scandinavian blade steel. Carbon 0.60%, chromium 13.5%, HRC 54-61. Clean microstructure, proven corrosion resistance, reliable performance. Widely used in European-manufactured scissors and serves as the baseline against which other Sandvik grades are measured.

12C27M — Carbon 0.52%, chromium 14.5%, HRC 53-59. This is the grade Sandvik officially recommends for scissors in their own technical documentation. The lower carbon and higher chromium shift the balance toward corrosion resistance and toughness over maximum hardness — a deliberate choice reflecting the demands of daily salon use.

13C26 — Carbon 0.68%, chromium 13.0%, HRC 58-61. The razor blade steel, functionally equivalent to Bohler’s AEB-L. Fine carbide structure optimised for extremely thin edges. Used in scissors designed for precision slide cutting and razor-style techniques.

14C28N — Carbon 0.62%, chromium 14.0%, HRC 55-62. The nitrogen-enhanced modern evolution. Nitrogen refines grain structure and improves corrosion resistance without the brittleness risks of higher carbon. Arguably the most versatile steel in Sandvik’s blade range for scissors applications.

Bohler (Austria)

Bohler, part of the Voestalpine group, brings Austrian precision engineering to blade steel:

AEB-L — Carbon 0.67%, chromium 12.8%, HRC 59-62. Developed in 1928 for razor blades and still in production. The reference standard for fine-edged European blade steel.

N690 / N690CO — Carbon 1.07%, chromium 17.3%, cobalt 1.5%, HRC 58-60. A cobalt alloy-enhanced stainless steel that bridges European and Japanese approaches. The cobalt addition improves hot hardness and wear resistance. Comparable to VG-10 in many performance aspects, though with a distinctly European carbide distribution.

M390 Microclean — Carbon 1.90%, chromium 20.0%, HRC 60-62. Bohler’s flagship powder metallurgy steel. Extreme wear resistance, extreme corrosion resistance, extremely difficult to sharpen. Used in the most premium European scissors where performance justifies the maintenance complexity.

Also Documented: Daido Steel

The guide also covers two grades from Japan’s Daido Steel Corporation that deserve wider recognition:

DSR1K6(M) — specifically listed for scissors in Daido’s own product documentation. A mid-range stainless with good corrosion resistance and adequate hardness for professional use.

DSR10UA — described by Daido as “used for small scissors.” Higher carbon than DSR1K6(M), targeting applications where edge retention takes priority.

A Different Philosophy, Comparable Results

European blade steels are optimised for edge refinement and corrosion resistance in ways that differ from the Japanese emphasis on maximum hardness. Neither approach is superior in absolute terms — they serve different cutting techniques and maintenance philosophies. The full guides are available in ScissorPedia’s Steel Types reference section.