AUS8 vs. ATS-34

It kinda depends on what you think that the average user is...

But I bet that someouen would find the X-Ray to cut better. But I think that would be the case because it looks like the X-Ray has a higher/deeper hollow grind. Ijudging from that, I'd say that the average user would notice a difference because of the geometry, as opposed to the steel.

I personally find AUS-8 to sharpen much faster than ATS-34, though I doubt very much if most.. many..., o.k., of any non-forumite that I know could tell the difference! Nah, my uncle could tell... but he's a carver so he knows his edges.
 
I think I'm pretty settled on the X-Ray anyway...hmmm...yeah I guess the "average user" is rather subjective:D
 
Having handled both very recently (my Night Vision yesterday, the Pentagon the day before), I would not base my decision on the blade steels at all. IMO, there will be a difference, but so small as to be insignificant, if you can even notice it.

The Pentagon has a nice tip design, like a mini-tanto, but kinda like two tanto's with their spines back to back. It is sharpened on both sides of the very tip, FWIW. However, I do not really like the handle at all. No good guard to prevent your hand from sliding forward, for whatever reason it might. The Vision, on the other hand, has a VERY secure handle design, without having a guard that inteferes with the cutting of the primary edge. It is hands down my preferred knife, of those two.
 
I don't think that you would notice THAT much difference between those 2 steels. Get whatever knife that fits your needs (and hand) the best.
 
I know for a fact that AUS 6 and AUS 8 is easier to sharpen compared to ATS34. it was easier to raise a burr, using the same angles, strength, original edge etc etc
:)
 
Excellent feedback, as always.

Thanks! All posts were very helpful in my decision, especially your hands on outlook, rockspyder.
:):)
Warthog
 
Warthog :

Would the average user notice a sizable difference between the two steels?
Click to expand...

A 60 RC ATS-34 blade is significantly different from a 57 RC AUS-6 one, which is where they usually fall. However with the hardness range on the ATS-34 one that low odds are the steel performance is going to be in general not sigificantly different for most work.

-Cliff
 
Generally speaking, ATS-34 should hold an edge longer while being harder to resharpen than AUS-8. I´d go with ATS-34, although I think AUS-8 is a decent steel, too.
 
Originally posted by Cliff Stamp
A 60 RC ATS-34 blade is significantly different from a 57 RC AUS-6 one
Click to expand...

Buuuut.... how does the ATS-34 compare with AUS-8, the steel in question.

I'd still pick the AUS-8 over the ATS-34. Both lose their razor edge fairly quickly, IME. In fact, I can tell no difference. After that, the ATS-34 might degrade more slowly, but not differently enough that an average person will be able to tell the difference. Where you will notice the difference is when you try to sharpen it back to that razor edge, if you let it degrade far.
 
Rockspyder,

I agree with you exactly. This is one reason why I have become disenchanted with some of the newer steels, such as the CPM's, for my own personal use. Most of the hard-to-sharpen steels (I know that is a relative categorization) don't hold their initial razor edge signifigantly longer than simple carbon steels, or especially more complex alloys like 52100, my personal favorite.

But when you start the process of restoring that keen edge, it takes much longer.

I realize that a knife doesn't have to have a razor edge to be useful, and in some applications, a coarser edge is even more desirable. But for most of the things I do with a knife, I like a very sharp edge. I try to keep it that way with a strop as long as possible before going to a hone.

That being said, I like AUS 8 better than ATS-34 for my personal use.

It may be just my subjective opinion, but I think AUS 8 takes a little sharper edge than ATS 34 or 154 CM, its American clone.

Still, even with all of that, ona practical level, design and edge geometry probably make a bigger difference in many cases than steel selection, granted that the two steels being compared are not miles apart in performance, which is the case in ATS-34 and AUS 8.
 
Originally posted by sandrat
AUS 8 is roughly equivelent to 440C
ATS34 is Hitachi's answer to CM154
Click to expand...

Hmmmm... well, yeah, maybe. IMO, 440C is more equivalent to AUS-10, except the AUS has a small amount of Vanadium when the 440C doesn't.

Also, I agree totally with Coonskinner regarding the sharpenability of the AUS-8. It may just be my sharpening skills, but I just never can seem to get as fine an edge on the ATS154 clones as I can AUS-8 or 440C. Let alone VG10... but I digress. Bottom line is, I like AUS-8, and 440C.... and 154CM.... and even ATS-34, although I feel 154CM can get a little keener than the ATS. But other than that, they seem pretty indistinguishable.... man, I really digressed a lot.... sorry. :footinmou
 
rockspyder :

how does the ATS-34 compare with AUS-8, the steel in question.
Click to expand...

AUS-8 is tougher and more ductile at the lower hardness, even if the ATS-34 was dropped to a similar RC, which would make no sense because that isn't where ATS-34 was designed to run. At the higher hardness levels you will see a crisper edge formation on ATS-34 and a longer edge life assuming you don't exceed its fracture toughness or ductility which isn't hard to do.

-Cliff
 
OK, I think I understand what you're saying. AUS-8 at 57-58 (assuming it may be run a little harder than the AUS-6's 57 Rc that you quote above) will be tougher than ATS-34 at 60, but will lose a little edge holding to loss of abrasion resistance that the ATS-34 has. Correct?
 
rockspyder :

AUS-8 at 57-58 (assuming it may be run a little harder than the AUS-6's 57 Rc that you quote above) will be tougher than ATS-34 at 60, but will lose a little edge holding to loss of abrasion resistance that the ATS-34 has. Correct?
Click to expand...

Yes it will be tougher, and it will lose edge retention in general, but the loss of edge retention, for most materials is simply because it is softer and thus therefore rolls easier.

-Cliff
 
i dunno about you guys, but i find cryo treated 154cm difficult to sharpen to a razor edge
whereas even 420 can be coaxed to give me a hair shaving edge
i would say that if you're confident you can sharpen the harder steels right, there's shouldn't be anything stopping you from getting a knife made of these materials
 
AUS-8 can be called "poor mans ATS-34."
The reason of raising cost of these steel is containing
higher amount of moly and tangusten.other element is cheaper
than those element besides Cobolt.
AUS doesnt have purity of alloy design.But it has high efficency of cost performance.
But im sorry i dont know how mach these material in USA by
complexity of US import tax and marchants' royality.
Im sure that choice of AUS is good way,but not ultimate way.
Newer things is not equal to more developed things usually.
 
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