Carbon V vs. AUS 8A

L

Lockheed

Joined
Jun 5, 2007
Messages
81
Cold Steel has been throwing these names around for a few years now. The SRK is made with the AUS now but was made with the Carbon V before. If you had a choice between a SRK with Carbon V and a SRK with AUS 8A which one would you pick and WHY???? WHich one is better overall?
 
Here you go, the Steel FAQ by Joe Talmadge. It will give you good, organized information on the different steels.

Which steel is best depends on your specific needs. Carbon V was generally acknowledged to be a successful choice for the SRK, but if you work around salt water, with little chance to maintain your knife, AUS-8 might be a better choice.
 
My understanding is Carbon V is very good carbon steel with a proprietary heat treatment done by Camillus, which has an excellent reputation among tactical and outdoor enthusiasts. This is the same steel that was used in Camillus' Becker line, also highly regarded by the same crowd.

Personally I like AUS8 steel, but it is very common fairly inexpensive stainless, and I don't think is as highly regarded for large survival/tactical/hunting knives. Corrosion resistance would of course be much better, but I don't think it can compete in edge retention and toughness.

Both have fine grain structure and take a very fine high polished edge as I understand it.
 
First, I live in a dry climate, so keep that in mind as you read my comments.

I own several Carbon V blades from Cold Steel and I dearly love them. (Not as much as D-2, but I still love them:rolleyes: )

I have one Cold Steel AUS8A blade, and wouldn't have another one as a gift.

Just my experience, for however much (or little:D ) it's worth!
 
This may be a moot point due to the fact that Camillus, the company that produced the Carbon V steel, is no longer in business. While some of CS knives made of Carbon V may still be available at some dealers and the auction sites, that supply is getting smaller and smaller.

Given a choice of CS products, I'd be happy with either their AUS8 or Carbon V, if available.
 
I love carbon V. I like AUS8 products when they are made right. I am afraid of some of the new products from CS. They have lowered their prices considerably which makes me worry about a quality drop. I don't think CS would drop there prices to terribly much unless materials and manufacturing cost have drop considerably which usually means a quality drop.
 
According to Micael Stuart (he clarify this here some time ago) this is steel known by different names:

50100-B
CarbonV
Case CV
1070-6

Composition is:

C=0.98-1.10
Mn=0.25-0.45
Cr=0.5
V=0.2
Ni=.03

So it is pretty close to 52100 by composition - pretty good steel and all CS Carbon V knives was made by Camillus.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Not all. In the early days the blades were ground out of hardened stock. Jim Merrit, yes the Partner Partner of Bob Loveless was sent to purchace the automated grinders. Jim was heading of the grinding department of cold Steel at the time. Mike
 
Cool thanks guys. I got one more for ya. I have the choice between a CS SRK made of Carbon V or a Scrap Yard Knife. Scrap yard claims to be making some of the toughest knives that can withstand ANYTHING!!! Any suggestions?
 
Lockheed said:
Cool thanks guys. I got one more for ya. I have the choice between a CS SRK made of Carbon V or a Scrap Yard Knife. Scrap yard claims to be making some of the toughest knives that can withstand ANYTHING!!! Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

SY for sure - as a semicustom they suppose to pay much more attention to HT, however I rather recommend you SwampRat.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
nozh2002 said:
According to Micael Stuart (he clarify this here some time ago) this is steel known by different names:

50100-B
CarbonV
Case CV
1070-6

Composition is:

C=0.98-1.10
Mn=0.25-0.45
Cr=0.5
V=0.2
Ni=.03

So it is pretty close to 52100 by composition - pretty good steel and all CS Carbon V knives was made by Camillus.

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...


I want to point to one very important difference: heat treatment.

0170-6 in general and Carbon V do not share the same heat treat process. The Carbon V process was invented by Dan Maragni and utilized solely by Camillus.

0170-6C (the steel used in the Camillus Becker line) and Carbon V do share the same heat treat. They are effectively the same steel that came out of the Camillus plant.

Phil Gibbs is the man who named 0170-6C for Camillus, and this is how he puts it.

Phil Gibbs said:
Carbon V definately came first. It was the brainchild of the Metal God, Dan Maragni, & was, in my opinion, what put Cold Steel on the map all those years ago.

When Cold Steel came to Camillus to make their carbon steel knives, they did not want to pay for the vast amount of steel that had to be purchased in order to have a custom steel made to their specifications.
Consequently Cold Steel agreed that Camillus could also use the steel (& pay them a royalty, I believe) but could not call it Carbon V.

I came up with the name 0170-6C, based on an almost close (but NOT) steel produced by Sharron Steel called 0170-6.

All this is historical trivia.

The real issue for those who understand is Heat Treatment!

The reason that the Camillus Beckers perform so well is that Dan Maragni set up a system of heat treatment at Camillus for the Cold Steel knives, & oversaw almost every batch of knives produced. What we learnt about heat treating Cold Steel seeped over to the Becker knives.
All that is now lost forever!

In my humble opinion, the values of the Camillus Beckers may not rise significantly in the collector market, but for those interested in a high performance user, get them while you can. Without Maragni's methods, I don't care what a future maker of Beckers uses, they will just be well designed carbon steel knives covered in powder coat!

I dearly hope I am wrong & the new maker will consider trying to improve their methods. Time will tell..............
Click to expand...

Regard CV (Chrome Vanadium) steel, Gibbs points out:

Phil Gibbs said:
CV steel is readily available.
Carbon V is not. You need to have Maragni's recipe, and the ability to buy 120,000 pounds at a time to buy a complete "heat" of steel.

. . .

I would much rather have a beautifully heat treated 420 blade than a rush job on a S30V blade. Every time!

The interesting thing is how different the methods are for heat treating Stainless Steel & Carbon Steel.

Hi tech atmosphere controlled furnaces with computer controls can do a great job on stainless, not so with carbon!!

Best methods to heat treat Carbon blade steels have changed little in 100-200 years! If a knife factory is using modern methods to heat treat carbon steel, IMHO it is a compromise, & the best potential for the steel is missed.
Click to expand...
 
Lockheed, try a SY knife. That modified S7 tool steel they're using is some tough stuff.

I've pounded the heck out of a SY Dog Father, and it's kept a very nice edge.


.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top