A heat treatment method of steel is capable of enhancing wear resistance,
mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the steel due to the
reduction of the retained austenite amount to substantially zero. In the
method, an article of the steel is subjected to a quenching and then
subzero treatment including cooling it at a cooling rate of 1 to
10.degree. C./min. to a cooling temperature and holding the cooling
temperature for a predetermined period of time.