Microscratch　responses　of　14　bulk　metallic　glasses　were　investigated　by　Rockwell　C　diamond　indenter　under　progressive　normal　load.　Effects　of　mechanical　properties　on　microscratch　variables　are　quantified　for　bulk　metallic　glasses.　Penetration　depth　increases　linearly　with　normal　force,　and　a　power-law　function　can　be　used　to　express　the　variation　of　residual　depth　with　normal　force　under　small　loads.　Residual　depth　fluctuates　under　large　loads;　and　elastic　recovery　rate,　scratch　friction　coefficient,　lateral　hardness,　and　scratch　hardness　all　tend　to　be　stable　under　large　loads.　The　asymptotic　scratch　friction　coefficient　decreases　linearly　with　the　increase　in　scratch　hardness.　The　asymptotic　elastic　recovery　rate　is　found　to　be　proportional　to　the　ratio　of　elastic　modulus　over　Knoop　hardness,　and　scaling　relationships　among　hardness　values　and　yield　strength　are　found.　Different　scratch-based　methodologies　of　assessing　fracture　toughness　are　compared　and　discussed.　The　successful　characterization　of　fracture　toughness　by　scratch-based　methods　requires　sufficiently　large　loads,　and　different　methodologies　have　different　scopes　of　application.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd