Cold Steel OSS - Now in AUS8a?

[Mitchell Knives]

I was looking around on the Cold Steel website, and noticed that the OSS is now listed as being made of AUS8a. The last I remember, they were produced in 4116 Krupp. Has anyone tried one of the new AUS8a versions? Also, does anyone know where I could buy the AUS8a model online other than the Cold Steel site? Thanks!

 

[Wunderbar]

I noticed that too in their fall catalog. Nice change considering it looked like they were going down.

 

[steelscout30]

I think that even AUS-8A is an improvement to the 4116 Krupp stainless. I own several large Cold Steel folders in AUS-8A (X2 Voyager and Vaquero Grande), and it's an acceptable stainless steel, although marginalized by the many modern CPM series steels and etc. AUS-8A may not have been the best choice for a long, double-edged blade---Carbon V certainly was good for that---but it's not overly horrible either, I suppose.

Cold Steel's AUS-8A was better than the current VG-1.

 

[tigretony]

Cold Steel's AUS-8A was better than the current VG-1.

I disagree. The current VG-1 has better edge retention. The cold steel's aus 8 takes a lot of blur when you sharpen it, and it has very poor edge retention.

"El Tigre"

 

[rifon2]

Cold Steel's AUS-8A was better than the current VG-1.

I disagree. The current VG-1 has better edge retention. .

I also think that Cold Steel's VG-1 is better than its AUS8A. Takes as sharp an edge and holds it longer.
Wish they'd make more models with the VG-1; it's really a pretty good steel.