A method for production of a steel wire of excellent mechanical descaling performance, said steel wire consisting of: C: 0.05-1.2 mass%, Si: 0.01-0.5 mass%, Mn: 0.1-1.5 mass%, P: no more than 0.02 mass%, S: no more than 0.02 mass%, N: no more than 0.01 mass%, and optionally Cr: 0.3 mass% or less, Ni: 0.3 mass% or less, Cu: 0.2 mass% or less, one or more species of Nb, Ti, V, Hf, and Zr in a total amount of 0.1 mass% or less, B: 0.001-0.005 mass%, Mg: 0.01 mass% or less, Al: 0.05 mass% or less, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, said steel wire being characterized by having a Fe 2 SiO 4 (fayalite) layer in contact with that side of scale formed at the time of hot rolling which faces the steel, said Fe 2 SiO 4 layer being formed immediately on a P-concentrated part that exists at the steel-scale interface and has a maximum value of P concentration no larger than 2.5 mass%, wherein said Fe 2 SiO 4 layer has a thickness of 0.01-1 μm, said method comprising: heating and hot rolling a steel billet wherein hot rolling is performed on the heated steel billet which is at 1200°C or below when discharged from the heating furnace, oxidizing the surface of the hot-rolled steel wire by passing through a wet atmosphere containing steam and/or water mist having a particle diameter no larger than 100 μm and having a dew point of 30-80°C for 0.1 to less than 5 seconds, wherein oxidation of the steel wire is carried out at 750-1015°C, and cooling the steel wire after oxidation at a cooling rate no lower than 10°C/sec up to 600°C. C: 0.05-1.2 mass%, Si: 0.01-0.5 mass%, Mn: 0.1-1.5 mass%, P: no more than 0.02 mass%, S: no more than 0.02 mass%, N: no more than 0.01 mass%, and optionally Cr: 0.3 mass% or less, Ni: 0.3 mass% or less, Cu: 0.2 mass% or less, one or more species of Nb, Ti, V, Hf, and Zr in a total amount of 0.1 mass% or less, B: 0.001-0.005 mass%, Mg: 0.01 mass% or less, Al: 0.05 mass% or less, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, said steel wire being characterized by having a Fe 2 SiO 4 (fayalite) layer in contact with that side of scale formed at the time of hot rolling which faces the steel, said Fe 2 SiO 4 layer being formed immediately on a P-concentrated part that exists at the steel-scale interface and has a maximum value of P concentration no larger than 2.5 mass%, wherein said Fe 2 SiO 4 layer has a thickness of 0.01-1 μm, said method comprising: heating and hot rolling a steel billet wherein hot rolling is performed on the heated steel billet which is at 1200°C or below when discharged from the heating furnace, oxidizing the surface of the hot-rolled steel wire by passing through a wet atmosphere containing steam and/or water mist having a particle diameter no larger than 100 μm and having a dew point of 30-80°C for 0.1 to less than 5 seconds, wherein oxidation of the steel wire is carried out at 750-1015°C, and cooling the steel wire after oxidation at a cooling rate no lower than 10°C/sec up to 600°C. heating and hot rolling a steel billet wherein hot rolling is performed on the heated steel billet which is at 1200°C or below when discharged from the heating furnace, oxidizing the surface of the hot-rolled steel wire by passing through a wet atmosphere containing steam and/or water mist having a particle diameter no larger than 100 μm and having a dew point of 30-80°C for 0.1 to less than 5 seconds, wherein oxidation of the steel wire is carried out at 750-1015°C, and cooling the steel wire after oxidation at a cooling rate no lower than 10°C/sec up to 600°C.