in terms of the heating process, this was listed on a Japanese website and was translated by Google so it's not perfect but still well understandable:
'Feature
* Steel is mainly used SKD11 (D2 steel)
- Used primarily to sheath Kaidekkusu
* Handle material Maikaruta, carbon, G10 resin used in plastics industry and engineers
How to finish - mostly Burasutofinisshu
Black finish separately ※, hair line, can mirror finish
· RID series represented by the LED base is looking at us from electronic components, using all my own full custom circuit to base
Recipe
- Cut from the cutting of steel
After the cutting process - made a hardened, about 58 Rockwell hardness - 59 (D2 steel case)'
As you can see from above, he heats the steel to 58-59 Rockwell which falls directly in the sweet spot you mention, so I think there shouldn't be any unexpected surprises.