A method of manufacturing a manganese steel which comprises the steps of subjecting an alloy having the following composition by weight: carbon 0.9 to 1.4%; manganese 3.0 to 8.0%; chromium 1.0 to 2.5%; molybdenum 0.5 to 2.5%; silicon 0.25 to 2.0%; cobalt 1.0 to 5.0%; with the balance iron plus incidental impurities, to heating at a temperature within the range 900.degree. to 1100.degree. C. and then cooling the alloy to a temperature below 200.degree. C. to produce a wear-resistant manganese steel having a predominantly austenite content. The predominantly austenite steel may be converted to predominantly pearlite steel by a subsequent heating step at 500.degree. to 690.degree. C. for at least one hour. That predominantly pearlite steel may be hardened to a Rockwell C-scale hardness in excess of 50 by further heating step between 690.degree. to 800.degree. C. for at least 5 minutes.
