Recommendation? Cold Steel buffs...San Mai III or AUS 8A?

[Xisthrind]

I am looking to replace my Cold Steel SRK sometime next year and want to know what properties the different steels like this have. I don't mind if I need to keep it oiled to prevent rust. Just want to know which can be sharpened the easiest and hold an edge.

Is the San Mai III similar to the old carbon V? I liked my Carbon V...alas a crack-head pill addict needed it to sell...and I had that horrible work habit...One more reason I walk with a cane...just in case its my lucky day. But no seriously after the hip is fixed it will be back country time for me next fall. I want a good camp knife to go with my Gransfors Bruk carpenter hatchet.

 

[jake pogg]

As much as i hate to do this i must:Cold Steel,as a company,are douchebags.They attempted to copyright the term "san-mai",in spite of it being simply Japanese for "three-layer" or the like.
In the process they sent this entirely sleazy and inappropriate letter to hundreds of small independent makers,in an attempt to start charging for the use of this term...Lower form of behavoir in business ethics `than that i cannot imagine.

In any case,that's all san-mai means.3 layers.All traditional Scandinavian knives are that,and many others.
Normally it's the harder,hardenable alloy sandwiched between lower-C alloy pieces for both structural reasons and economy of material.
And so what Exactly is used in the specific combination you mention you'll have to ask the sleazeballs at CS.

(I'd suggest getting that same or similar object from a small domestic maker,someone like Storm Crow or others right on this site).

 

[justjed]

The San Mai III is not in any way similar to CarbonV. That was 0170-6C, also known as 1095 Cro-Van. Good stuff, but still just decent carbon steel. The original CS San Mai had a core of VG-10 cobalt steel between two layers of 420J2 basic stainless. In this case, the whole is more than just the sum of the parts. It's the same laminated steel that is used by Fallkniven. Not sure what the formulation is in San Mai III, but it has some pretty big shoes to fill. In my opinion.

Oh, you should look at the Cold Steel Recon Scout. Should fit you needs for a camp knife...

 

[Spey]

It is my understanding that C.S. (Cold Steel) merely own a stylized "Trademark" on both stylized text San Mai & San Mai III from the 1980's.

NOT in any way to be confused with a "copyright", even though Lynn has attempted to persuade others that this "Trademark" has something to do with construction processes, materials, etc. It is simply a logo "Trademark".

Please understand, I am not attempting to defend L.T. (Lynn Thompson) or C.S. His letters to makers a few years back were creative (from a legal perspective), and in my mind hurt the reputation of C.S.). Both B.M. (Benchmade) & C.S. have attempted B.S. like this for decades.

As much as i hate to do this i must:Cold Steel,as a company,are douchebags.They attempted to copyright the term "san-mai",in spite of it being simply Japanese for "three-layer" or the like.
In the process they sent this entirely sleazy and inappropriate letter to hundreds of small independent makers,in an attempt to start charging for the use of this term...Lower form of behavoir in business ethics `than that i cannot imagine.

In any case,that's all san-mai means.3 layers.All traditional Scandinavian knives are that,and many others.
Normally it's the harder,hardenable alloy sandwiched between lower-C alloy pieces for both structural reasons and economy of material.
And so what Exactly is used in the specific combination you mention you'll have to ask the sleazeballs at CS.

(I'd suggest getting that same or similar object from a small domestic maker,someone like Storm Crow or others right on this site).

 

[JeffG@818]

Years ago I bought a Trailmaster in AUS8. I put the knife through a lot of work, chopping, slicing skinning. It never let me down, a great blade steel. Stays sharp, easy to resharpen. At one point I re-handled it, and forced a patina on the blade. Still going strong. I have no experience with their San Mai.

 

[Coyja]

I’ve had a couple CS AUS 8 knives and, while I say their overall design aesthetic can leave something to be desired, the steel was good. AUS8 for me effectively functions like VG10 that needs sharpened a bit more, but sharpens up easy.