Very much so. Vanadium is one of those “wonder elements” that can have spectacular effects on the metallurgy with very minimal additions. read more
Vanadium more or less acts as a grain refining agent, minimizing grain growth and reducing the proclivity to form larger grains. You generally want smaller, more numerous grains in steels, and swords are no different. Just a smidge of vanadium - 0.1% - can give you an extra 10% boost in yield strength. read more
5160, a spring steel. Popular steel for forging swords and large knives. High toughness and good wear resistance. 6150, a chromium-vanadium alloy. Similar to 4140, 6150 is a tough steel with good impact resistance that can be hardened to the mid-50s on the RHC scale. read more