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Steel Grade Selector
Three questions, one recommendation — VG10, Japanese 440C, or China 440C, based on the same hardness/drop-tolerance trade-off covered on this page.
1. How many cuts does a typical shear on your floor see per week?
Low volume (apprentice / part-time)
Working stylist, standard schedule
High-volume chair or private-label test run
2. How often do shears get dropped or handled roughly on your floor?
Rarely — controlled studio environment
Occasionally — busy salon floor
Often — multi-chair barbershop / training floor
3. What matters more for this purchase?
Longest possible time between sharpenings
A balance of edge life and drop tolerance
Lowest landed cost for a private-label test run
Recommended tier
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Recommendation is a directional starting point based on the trade-offs described on this page (hardness, edge retention, drop tolerance) — not a substitute for a sample evaluation on your own hair types and cutting technique.