VG10 vs SG2 / R2 V金10号 / SG2 / SPG2（粉末ハイス）
Short answer
VG10 is the classic Takefu stainless: easy-going, mid-range edge life. SG2 (R2) is a powder stainless run harder: clearly longer edge life, more brittle, and slower to sharpen. Both are fully stainless.
| VG10 | SG2 / R2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (typical HRC) | 60–62 | 63–64 |
| Type | stainless | stainless |
| Easy to sharpen | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Edge retention | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Rust resistance | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Chip resistance | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Mark on the blade | VG10 / V金10号 / V10 | SG2 / SPG2 / R2 / 粉末 |
| Whetstone | 1000 → 3000 | 1000 → 3000–5000 |
Scores are relative, 1–5, for kitchen-knife use — our summary of maker data and common experience, not lab tests. Heat treatment and grind can move a knife a full point either way.
VG10 V金10号
Takefu Special Steel's stainless with cobalt. The default steel of Tojiro's DP/PRO lines; also in damascus lines.
Who uses it: Kiryu Kogyo, Nakagawa Shokai, Shimomura Kogyo, Tojiro, Tsurugi Kenshin, Yajimaya, Baba Hamono (Sakai), Fujiwara Kanefusa (Seki), Hatsukokoro (Hyogo (brand)), Kai Corporation (Seki)
Sanjo examples with prices:
SG2 / R2 SG2 / SPG2（粉末ハイス）
Powder-metallurgy stainless. Long edge life, chips if abused. Kataoka's TAMAHAGANE and Kiryu's SPG2 line.
Who uses it: Kataoka Seisakusho, Kiryu Kogyo, Baba Hamono (Sakai), Hatsukokoro (Hyogo (brand)), Hitohira (Tokyo), Kato Yoshimi (Echizen (Takefu)), Konosuke (Sakai), Kurosaki Yu (Echizen (Takefu)), Miyabi (Seki), Nigara Hamono (Tsugaru (Aomori))
Sanjo examples with prices:
- Kataoka Seisakusho — TAMAHAGANE 響十 筋引 · ¥27,629
Care
Wipe dry after use. Dishwasher still not recommended — the heat and detergent dull the edge and loosen handles.