AUS6 Question

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Squeezymo

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Feb 4, 2008
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I got my dad a Kershaw Vapor for Christmas. He's always liked Kershaws and knows a lot about knives but just doesn't own very many. I wasn't too concerned about the steel in the knife, because my dad's philosophy is that he likes his knives razor sharp, so he doesn't really care if he has a super steel, because he's just going to wind up sharpening it after every use anyway. I actually find myself adopting that view as of late...

So how well does AUS6 perform? Edge holding isn't great I would assume but is it substantial? How does it compare to 440A/B or 420HC (or other steels used in cheaper models). More importantly how well can it take an edge? Also, any other comments on the knife would be nice. I want to pick one up for myself actually.
 
I too got a vapor for my dad fir xmas like 4 or 5 yrs ago. He still carries it everyday. However, he doesnt ever sharpen it, and is better off cutting a box with a rock than the thing.

AUS6 is one of, if not the most soft steels out there. It looses its edge quickly, However, an in-experienced sharpener can get it razor sharp fairly quickly. You have to be careful sometimes though. In my earlier sharpening days, I was too tough on it when sharpening, and since it's so soft, I kept rolling the edge. Dont put too much pressure on it while sharpening, and it'll be fine. AUS6 is a pretty good stain resistor too.

420HC, 440, 440A, and 440C (not to familiar with 440B), all hold an edge quite better. (440 and 440A are close to the same though). All these are quite easy to sharpen and are good stain resistors too.

If I were you, I'd get something higher up than an AUS6 blade. I think the 400 series sharpens just as easy and will hold an edge longer. And theyre all about the same with corrosion resistance. Check out The Spyderco Tenacious (if youre looking in the same price range). It has a newer steel, 8cr13mov. Its right there with AUS8 and a little below 440C. It will hold an edge longer than aus6. Easy to sharpen/keep rust free too.
 
I have carried a Kershaw Vapor for quie awhile. The steel seems to take and hold an edge quite well. I have been very happy with it for the price I paid.

Next you should get him some sharpening gear. I favor the GATCO professional kit. It sharpens up the Vapor quite nicely.
 
Hard H2O said:
I have carried a Kershaw Vapor for quie awhile. The steel seems to take and hold an edge quite well. I have been very happy with it for the price I paid.

Next you should get him some sharpening gear. I favor the GATCO professional kit. It sharpens up the Vapor quite nicely.
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He has sharpening gear, and he can sharpen nail clippers to slice hair. I just wanted to know whether it will hold an edge long enough for just one job and not lose it after the first cut.

Jack Bauer kinda answered my question. I just remember telling my dad that my Blur had S30V in it and he was asking about what it was. I told him it supposedly holds an edge really well and he said he prefers softer steels because they are easier to sharpen and he always sharpens the knives anyway. I also know he said he liked Kershaws, plus the Vapor locks up well, and I like the design, I figured he would too.
 
Sounds like the Vapor will be a good fit for his style of knife use.

It has been a nice knife for me. It sharpens up nice. Keeps the edge through normal, urban office, and around home use. Doesn't require frequent sharpening. Takes a nice polished edge. The blade shape is nice and useable. It is small and light enough for EDC yet big enough for most tasks. Locks up solid. Opens nice.

Overall a great knife for the money.

I even used mine to help a guy gut a deer when I left my pack back at the deer stand.
 
The AUS-6 in the Kershaw Vapor is a very responsive steel. AUS-6 is a fine-grained steel and will take a screaming edge without the need for specialized sharpening tools.
 
thombrogan said:
The AUS-6 in the Kershaw Vapor is a very responsive steel. AUS-6 is a fine-grained steel and will take a screaming edge without the need for specialized sharpening tools.
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SOG still uses AUS6 in the Pentagon fixed blade; it can get very sharp indeed.
It's generally comparable to 440A.

(AUS6 to 440A, AUS8 to 440B, and AUS10 to 440C.)
 
SOG Uses AUS6 In Seal 2000, Tiger shark and Lots of others, My Tiger served me well for years. EASY to get RAZOR Sharp. I like it on BIG Knives because it keeps price down, doesn't rust and WON'T BREAK IN 5 Peices from Mild Prying/abuse, like some "Super CPM Steels" will.
 
AUS-6 certainly isn't a bad steel---sometimes knife users around here on BladeForums get turned off when they see the nomenclature "AUS"...things like -4, -6, and -8A all tend to make enthusiasts shudder. I don't think that's necessarily right; while it doesn't perform as well as VG-10, S30V, or any number of other contemporary supersteels, it's certainly not bad stuff. It's easy to sharpen and will hold a useable edge for longer than most think. I think thombrogan said it quite well. :thumbup:
 
Boy is this a different discussion than the other one about "lower end" steels.

I purchase mainly lower end knives. I just got a Benchmade Ambush in AUS-8. Not as high end as some but the nicest I have ever had. This is the sharpest factory edge I have ever seen.

I do not think that "lower end" steels are bad. They just have different properties.

"Premium" steels seem to be harder to sharpen but hold an edge longer. Lower end steels are easier to sharpen but do not hold an edge as long.

More of the performance is in the heat treat and grind than in the type of steel.

Which end of the spectrum do you need? Short of the butter knife steels that dull if you breath on them I have been well served by my AUS-6.
 
I live in Texas, and my edc there is usually a Benchmade; however, I visit rural western Pennsylvania a lot, and up here my most common everyday knife is an old CRKT Prowler. It does an adequate job to most chores, and, like has been said, is easy to sharpen. Since I only have the basic sharpening tools up here -- i.e. a couple of inexpensive whetstones -- that's a quality that I appreciate. If I were limited to only one knife would AUS 6 be my first choice? No. But it works for my everyday needs up here.
 
bladefoolish said:
I live in Texas, and my edc there is usually a Benchmade; however, I visit rural western Pennsylvania a lot, and up here my most common everyday knife is an old CRKT Prowler. It does an adequate job to most chores, and, like has been said, is easy to sharpen. Since I only have the basic sharpening tools up here -- i.e. a couple of inexpensive whetstones -- that's a quality that I appreciate. If I were limited to only one knife would AUS 6 be my first choice? No. But it works for my everyday needs up here.
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If there was a one knife limit I would probably be on the lam from the law, in a survival situation or battling zombies and the knife would be whichever one I could grab fast or whatever was in my pocket.

In that case AUS-6, AUS-8, whatever my Leatherman Juice has for steel...would be what I end up with. I am a cheap SOB and inexpensive knives come with cheap steel.
 
While I have some quality knives, I tend to buy easily replaceable and inexpensive blades and stash them around where they are convenient, but I wouldn't feel like committing suicide if they got lost or stolen.
 
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