Hi MicroAlign. AUS-10, sometimes call 10A (for short) is a steel made by Aichi foundry in Japan. It is a very refined stainless steel with about 1% carbon content.
AUS-6, AUS-8, and AUS-10 all have the same alloys and differ only in the carbon content. The greater the carbon, the greater the edge retention.
Abrasion resistance (edge retention) is about on a par with ATS-34.
Corrosion resistance is also on a par with the ATS steels.
Aichi's heat treating requirements are very specific and include cryo in the process.
It is an expensive steel to purchase and process, but performance of the Aichi made product is very good.
I have not yet seen "knock offs" of the steel.
sal