Aus-8 or San Mai

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ml100

Joined
Jul 19, 2005
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I 'd like to get a Cold Steel SRK. Is it worth spending the extra money on the San Mai Steel?
 
What's the price difference (prices are very different here in Oz)? I have the SRK in AUS8 and don't mind it, but I'm wondering if other knives like the Fallkniven range (similar and also stainless) are better options if you're paying more.
 
ML100 I went through this same dilemma before ordering my Cold Steel Srk and I'll tell you how I decided. I actually ordered both and compared them once I had both in my hands. I ended up going with the AUS-8 for several reasons. Even though the San Mai was a beautiful blade, cold steel ruined it for me by making the VG-1 a high hallow grind, the AUS-8 is a Sabre grind which is better suited for my intended use. My intended use for the SRK was outdoor survival, aka firewood processing, batoning, feather sticks, tinder making, etc. Hallow grind is better suited for slicing and cutting. Second consideration for me was that AUS-8 is much easier to sharpen for a sharpening challenged guy like me. And my final consideration was given my intended use, and the $75 price tag, I wasn't going to be afraid to go to town on firewood and really enjoy myself while outdoors. I've used it on about 5 backpacking trips so far and I very pleased with my decision. I used the heck out of it and I've been able to bring the AUS-8 back to a shaving sharp with the Sharpmaker. Just my two cents. Thanks.
 
I have the outdoorsman in San mai. Sharpest knife I ever bought. Hold edge well and for long use. I would drop the extra coin. Good luck
 
Poromenos said:
ML100 I went through this same dilemma before ordering my Cold Steel Srk and I'll tell you how I decided. I actually ordered both and compared them once I had both in my hands. I ended up going with the AUS-8 for several reasons. Even though the San Mai was a beautiful blade, cold steel ruined it for me by making the VG-1 a high hallow grind, the AUS-8 is a Sabre grind which is better suited for my intended use. My intended use for the SRK was outdoor survival, aka firewood processing, batoning, feather sticks, tinder making, etc. Hallow grind is better suited for slicing and cutting. Second consideration for me was that AUS-8 is much easier to sharpen for a sharpening challenged guy like me. And my final consideration was given my intended use, and the $75 price tag, I wasn't going to be afraid to go to town on firewood and really enjoy myself while outdoors. I've used it on about 5 backpacking trips so far and I very pleased with my decision. I used the heck out of it and I've been able to bring the AUS-8 back to a shaving sharp with the Sharpmaker. Just my two cents. Thanks.
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I didn't realize, that they have different grinds. I understand your point, and I' m not so fond of the hollow grind either, since my intended use for the knife is exactly like yours.
 
I've heard only good things about the AUS-8 SRK and very good things about the San Mai version. I have read a couple accounts commenting that the VG-1 of the San Mai can be a little brittle due to its hardness.

I went with the AUS-8 SRK because of the ridiculous deal I found for it, but mostly because of a recently discussed torture test video of the AUS-8 that was very impressive.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...uot-Destruction-Test-quot-video?highlight=srk
 
I've only had a trail master in San Mai, and a lot of their aus8.

The San Mai trail master was a lovely knife. Convex ground, though. My favorite grind for a chopper. It held an edge very well for that application.
 
I'd buy san mai almost any time it was within my budget. I've had good luck with it and I think the process can make a blade inherently stronger. It depends on the steels though.
 
San Mai III steel is a laminated stainless steel which consists of three layers of steel. The outer two layers are made of a softer, tough steel, sandwiching a harder, high carbon core that forms the actual cutting edge of the knife.

Earlier variants of San Mai III steel had an AUS-8 steel core, sandwiched by softer, tougher stainless sides possibly made from 420J2. Current San Mai III steel, sometimes called VG-1 San Mai III, uses a VG-1 stainless core which is a slight upgrade from AUS-8. San Mai looks very nice, but given the actual application of the knives in using this steel, the necessity of the San Mai construction is questionable . . .

San Mai III is used exclusively by Cold Steel, and is manufactured exclusively for them in Japan. Since VG-1 is a proprietary product of Takefu Special Steel, it is possible that they manufacture the steel for Cold Steel.

Source: http://faq.customtacticals.com/steels/stainless_sanmai3.php
 
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