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

The Complete Sandvik and Bohler Scissors Steel Guide Published

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ScissorPedia has published guides to blade steels from Sandvik/Alleima and Uddeholm in Sweden and Bohler in Austria. The references separate mill composition data from the heat treatment, geometry, and performance of a finished scissor.

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 Uddeholm’s AEB-L. Fine carbide structure optimized 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:

N690 / N690CO — Carbon 1.07%, chromium 17.3%, cobalt 1.5%. A cobalt alloy-enhanced stainless steel. A finished-scissor hardness or comparison with another grade requires model-specific data and a defined test method.

M390 Microclean: carbon 1.90%, chromium 20.0%. Bohler’s powder metallurgy grade, which Bohler lists for knives and industrial uses rather than hair scissors. Finished hardness, edge life and sharpening needs depend on the scissor maker’s heat treatment.

Uddeholm (Sweden)

Uddeholm, Böhler’s sister company in the voestalpine group, makes AEB-L in Munkfors, Sweden:

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

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.

Compare the Finished Scissor

Country labels do not define a single metallurgical philosophy. Composition is only one part of a finished tool: heat treatment, hardness, blade geometry, surface finish, assembly, and maintenance all affect performance. The full guides in ScissorPedia’s Steel Types reference section show the published data and the limits of cross-grade comparisons.