Steel strip for razor blades and method of manufacturing the same

1. A method for manufacturing a steel strip for razor blades comprising the steps of:

Irradiating thermal energy along a first line in a longitudinal direction of the strip having a first distance from a first edge of a martensitic stainless steel strip in annealed state, while running the strip, to form a continuous processed groove along the first line serving as a splitting portion, the splitting portion having a width of not more than 200 μm and depth of not less than 5% of the thickness of the strip; and

irradiating thermal energy along a second line in the longitudinal direction having a second predetermined distance from a second edge of the strip, while running the strip, to form a continuous area of heat changed structure along the second line in order to suppress deformation of the strip,

wherein the second edge of the strip is on the opposite side of the first edge of the strip,

wherein the first distance is substantially identical to the second distance, and

wherein the steel comprises, by mass percent,

0.3 to 0.8% C,

up to 1.0% Si,

up to 1.0% Mn,

10.0 to 15.0% Cr,

optionally up to 2.0% Mo,

the balance being substantially Fe.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous area of heat changed structure has a thickness less than a thickness of the strip.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises quenching and tempering the strip.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous area of heat changed structure has a thickness less than a thickness of the strip and wherein the method further comprises quenching tempering the strip.