Abstract:　Microscratch　test　was　conducted　on　sixteen　metals　by　Berkovich　and　Rockwell　C　120°　diamond　indenters　to　compare　scratch　responses　of　metals　under　progressive　normal　force　linearly　increasing　from　5　mN　to　30 N.　Both　penetration　and　residual　depths　obtained　by　Rockwell　C　indenter　increase　linearly　with　normal　force,　but　the　depths　measured　by　Berkovich　indenter　increase　nonlinearly.　The　asymptotic　elastic　recovery　rate　increases　linearly　with　elastic　modulus　and　yield　stress.　The　asymptotic　scratch　hardness,　lateral　hardness　and　Knoop　hardness　increase　linearly　with　yield　stress.　The　asymptotic　scratch　hardness　by　Rockwell　C　indenter,　the　asymptotic　lateral　hardness　by　Berkovich　indenter　and　Knoop　hardness　are　the　same　and　twice　the　asymptotic　scratch　hardness　by　Berkovich　indenter.　Graphical　Abstract:　[Figure　not　available:　see　fulltext.]　©　2021,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC,　part　of　Springer　Nature.