AUS-8 appreciation

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Maximumbob54

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Jun 10, 2024
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This is not Schrade's finest work and it was a CHEAP import knife right after the Axis lock went public:

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But this is about the AUS-8 blade steel. Slight hollow grind and only been sharpened once, otherwise it's been stropped. It slices through all the boxes so they fit in the bin, opens all the packages through all the fiber tape, and slices open all the dirty patio packages. So it's not exactly hard use but it also doesn't get cleaned up and taken care of until it starts tearing instead of slicing. Once again, sharpened ONCE so far and only stropping after that.

I guess my point is it's funny how spoiled we've become in such a short time. In these last few decades we've been blessed with such wild good steels that I've heard AUS-8 described as trash steel. And yet here's this trash steel powering though even with tape residue clinging to it. I've read it's equivalent to either 440B or C and I'd agree with 440C from some recent testing since I didn't use that one much back in the day. Heck, even my old Spyderco Endura in AUS-6 was a mean machine but that's cheating since it has a Spyderedge.

It's nice living in a golden era of knives.
 
If heat treated to the 59-60 HRC range, AUS8 is a great blade steel for daily carry. Unfortunately, as with 440A, people draw conclusions about the performance of the steel based on knives with suboptimal heat treats.
 
I remember when AUS8 was considered a "good" steel, and now it is considered trash by some because many people believe if you do t have the absolute best of something then it is garbage. It was good a few years ago and it is still good today. Just because there is something better doesnt make this no longer good.
 
AUS-8 is a good steel, imo. I think there is more of a debate when you consider the price of a knife and the grade of steel you get for it.

As I recall a few years back, the Al Mar Ultralights in AUS-8 were sneezed at by some because you could buy something like a Spyderco Delica/Endura in VG-10 for less money. I ended up getting an Eagle anyway, and the only regret I have now is not snagging the rest of the Japanese Ultralight family while they were still widely available.

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As economies continue to get tougher for the average Joe, these classic affordable steels will become popular again. The industry sort of backed themselves into a corner by pushing the supersteels so hard. No argument that they are better, but better comes at a cost.
 
AUS8 is my favorite Japanese stainless steel. It's very tough, holds an edge and is easy to sharpen. Serrated AUS8 blades perform better than other steels (in my experience). Not sure why.

8Cr13MoV is the Chinese version of AUS8 and performs just as well. If you have not tried a Spyderco Byrd serrated rescue knife, I highly recommend them. Cheap, tough and can cut through almost anything.
 
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