Shear Steel and HRC Comparator

Compare the three steels MATSUOPRO forges for curved dog grooming shears. Ranges are industry-standard values; heat treatment, not the grade name alone, decides real-world edge life.

Property	Value 440C	Japanese 440C	VG10 cobalt
Hardness (HRC)	56-58	58-60	60-62
Edge retention	Fair	Good	Very good
Toughness (drop resistance)	Good	High	Moderate
Sharpening	Easy, frequent	Standard, ~6-12 mo	Needs specialist
Best for	Budget / backup	All-around pro curved work	Fine dry detail
MATSUOPRO option	Value tier	Standard (MP-SC line)	Custom upgrade

A well-treated 440C can outperform a poorly-treated VG10 in edge retention and durability — the reason MATSUOPRO hardens and grinds every blade in-house under ISO 9001 rather than buying finished blanks.

Request a third-party HRC test report