AUS 6 M versus other steels?

[daryl douthat]

Just curious if anyone has data on performance of the AUS 6 M steel that CRKT uses compared to other steels such as AUS 6, AUS 8 or ATS 34. Used the Alaska "Bwana" this Fall and liked it but the old AUS 8 Kershaws seemed to hold an edge a bit longer. Wasn't a controlled test though by any standard.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

From what I can tell, AUS-6, 6A and 6M are the same steel. The cahrts I have read give them the same elemental components in the same percentages. Being that it has a little less carbon than AUS-8 it is quite likely that if both are heat treated properly, AUS-8 will hold an edge a bit better because it can be made somewhat harder.