Cold Steel CTS-XHP Blades Real World Usage

corey.lively

corey.lively

Joined
Jul 9, 2014
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145
I own a couple of Cold Steel knives in AUS-8 and I've been pleased with them, but I haven't ponied up for any of the new ones in the CTS-XHP steel. I'm curious how others feel about the Cold Steel iteration of the steel after some real world use?
 
There is a noticeable difference in edge retention. With that, I don't think it's worth replacing all your AUS8 blades. But worth the upgrade if you are going to try new folders. The AUS8 blades still perform well. Although the DLC blows the Teflon coating outta the water.
 
I have a cold steel Talwar xl with the steel. With cold steel's heat treat its very hard and wear resistant. Cuts very aggressively and holds a great edge. Best with a toothy edge. Can be hard to sharpen without a diamond stone. I haven't seen any chipping in use. But I did put a couple of very tiny microchips when using excessive pressure with my Lansky coarse hone.
 
What I really want to see is an all-around comparison between CTS-XHP and AUS 8A. Certainly, the XHP is going to have significantly superior edge retention, and probably rust resistance, but I want to know if it's as tough as the 8A is, as impact resistant and I also would like some hard data on comparative ease of sharpening. Thanks to Michael for the data point on that.

ursamajor said:
There is a noticeable difference in edge retention. With that, I don't think it's worth replacing all your AUS8 blades. But worth the upgrade if you are going to try new folders. The AUS8 blades still perform well. Although the DLC blows the Teflon coating outta the water.
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I'm actually a fan of the teflon coating (though I think calling it Tuff-ex makes absolutely 0 sense); it looks really cool when it wears off IMO, though as an actual coating the DLC is certainly more functional.

MichaelMyers said:
I have a cold steel Talwar xl with the steel. With cold steel's heat treat its very hard and wear resistant. Cuts very aggressively and holds a great edge. Best with a toothy edge. Can be hard to sharpen without a diamond stone. I haven't seen any chipping in use. But I did put a couple of very tiny microchips when using excessive pressure with my Lansky coarse hone.
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This makes sense; it is my understanding that CTS-XHP is a large carbide steel (though don't quote me on that, I'm certainly no metallurgist).
 
Kwon Kwang said:
What I really want to see is an all-around comparison between CTS-XHP and AUS 8A. Certainly, the XHP is going to have significantly superior edge retention, and probably rust resistance, but I want to know if it's as tough as the 8A is, as impact resistant and I also would like some hard data on comparative ease of sharpening.
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This CS video validates your thought that the CTS-XHP is going to have superior edge retention:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkZQpBqLF4Q
 
There is no comparison between the edge retention of these two steels. AUS8 is a low tier stainless. CTS-XHP is a top tier stainless. CTS-XHP out performs AUS8 like a Porche 911 Turbo does a bicycle.
 
No experience with aus8 but my new lawman was dropped on concrete and had a barely noticeable micro chip. I had a lot of damage to my Busse boss street when I dropped that one time in my basement floor. I was expecting that to happen when I picked up the AL but was very happy to see it was still ok. Just hit it on a fine stone for a minute on the tip and good to go. Really was ok but I'm anal like that. And it was only a few days old.
 
it's not quite 911 to bicycle but the XHP does outperform the AUS8. I was breaking down a box with my lawman in XHP. I cut through carelessly and hit the backup generator. To my surprise the edge showed no damage at all and there was a gouge cut into the generator housing. I had re-profiled to a lower angle (24ish inclusive) as well. Anecdotal as all outdoors but I was impressed. That re-profile was a slow task though. I wouldn't go back to AUS8 but if anyone has an original lawman they're not planning to keep, let me know. I strongly dislike the new thin handles
 
I never liked aus8. Did not hold an edge to my liking and did not seem all that tough either.
 
DocT said:
There is no comparison between the edge retention of these two steels. AUS8 is a low tier stainless. CTS-XHP is a top tier stainless. CTS-XHP out performs AUS8 like a Porche 911 Turbo does a bicycle.
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That's if we're only concerned with edge retention, though. No doubt it's a great steel, but AUS8A has its benefits. It's a high-value steel that does everything relatively well. What I want to know is if CTS-XHP does everything better than 8A.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
That's if we're only concerned with edge retention, though. No doubt it's a great steel, but AUS8A has its benefits. It's a high-value steel that does everything relatively well. What I want to know is if CTS-XHP does everything better than 8A.
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+1; This is what I want to know also. I have a Recon 1 in XHP and am very happy with its cutting performance. I appreciate the video that Cold Steel did comparing the edge retention of CTS-XHP with AUS-8A, but I'd be interested in seeing a second video comparing other traits like toughness.
 
I don't know how they compare, but I'm enjoying the prices I'm paying for aus 8 cold steels! Aus 8 does everything I need to do very well!
 
My recent testing has found xhp to keep a keen edge and take very well to stropping after cutting a lot of medium card board. It's held up well compared to my one aus8 knife, an Ontario rat, very well. Can't speak to cold steels aus8 though...
 
I have a lawman, a voyager, an hold out iii and a voyager xl in aus 8 and a recon 1, 2 lawman, a mini recon, an ultimate hunter in xhp.
I love both steels, but for a comparison:
-Edge retention, xhp wins
-Stain resistance, xhp wins
-Strenght, probably around the same as I personally broke both steels on cold steel knives.
-Edge stability, i'd say that I could bring my lawman in aus 8 to a finer angle without chipping, but it may only be the ht on those specific knives
-ease of sharpenning, xhp isn't that rough, but oh boy that aus 8 loves to get a screaming edge! A few passes on the strop and it's done. I find that xhp sharpens about as easily as s35vn, so it's easier than s30v, but not by much.
-polishability, damn, if you are like me, a shaving sharp edge is only the minimum, but you like mirrors edge... Aus 8 was a dream to polish, but I find xhp a lot harder to get a mirror edge than aus 8... Ans I must say that it's also harder than mamy other "super steel" to get that mirror effect on xhp. I guess it's because the carbides are too big.
-Toughness, this really depends on the hardness and the heat treat... I 've seen some xhp from cs at 60 and other tested at 63, so i guess that the more it's hard the more brittle it will get. But from my own experience, both steels aren't prone to chipping, so I really wouldn't get stressed by this aspect. The only thing that I noticed is that my lawman in xhp tend to get micro chipping on the spined when I use the spine as a stryker for my magnesium rod. I start fires often so it's important for me, but I really understand that it's not a concern for most of you guys. My aus 8 lawman nevers chipped on me when stricking the rod.
Hope that helps as a comparison. For kitchen knives and light edc i prefer aus 8, but for bigger tasks or prolonged outings I always choose xhp.
 
MichaelMyers said:
I have a cold steel Talwar xl with the steel. With cold steel's heat treat its very hard and wear resistant. Cuts very aggressively and holds a great edge. Best with a toothy edge. Can be hard to sharpen without a diamond stone. I haven't seen any chipping in use. But I did put a couple of very tiny microchips when using excessive pressure with my Lansky coarse hone.
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Hi i have a cold steel talwar 4" . I sharpening with my Lansky delux kit in 25 degrees angle. Its ok or is better to change the angle 20° or 17°?
 
hatchettjack said:
I don't know how they compare, but I'm enjoying the prices I'm paying for aus 8 cold steels! Aus 8 does everything I need to do very well!
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The vast majority of my CS folders are Aus 8 and I am in total agreement with the above comment. I like the colored handle and blackblade versions of some of Cold Steel's XL folders so I now own a few folders in CTS XHP. However I will never know if the new more expensive steel holds a better edge than Aus 8 simply because I will never make enough cuts to find out. I think that's probably true for the vast majority of knife owners who don't always use the same knife.
 
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