Cold Steel SRK AUS-8 edge retention. What about San Mia?

TheDandyLion

TheDandyLion

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Mar 27, 2013
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Can anyone vouch for the edge retention of the Cold Steel SRK? I'm looking at buying one but I'm not very confident in AUS-8 for a knife that style. Will it keep a good edge with heavy field use? If not is the San Mai version worth the extra $20?

Thanks,

Jake
 
^ I agree. It's really easy to put a screaming edge on it, but I have to do it frequently.
No experience with San Mai.
 
Cold Steel's AUS8 is very good. I think they wring just about as much performance out of it that they can.

However, on that style of knife I wouldn't recommend it. I had an SRK in carbon V that was a great knife. I loved that steel. Very tough, got very sharp, high shock and stress resistance.

I have tried one cold steel knife in their San Mai, but it was an older one where they used VG10 for the core. It was outstanding. I think they use something else now for the "sandwich" and I have not tried it yet.

If you can only get the SRK in AUS8 or San Mai, I'd go with the San Mai. If they offer it in any carbon steel, I'd go with the carbon steel version.
 
Their San Mai is vg 1 which has good edge retention. Aus 8a will hold an edge, but not as long as most steels. It does get crazy sharp and can be returned to crazy sharp on an 8000 grit waterstone in maybe 15-20 passes in my experience. Lack of long term edge retention is made up for by ease of re sharpening. I don't see it going truly dull during normal use. Just not staying razor sharp.
 
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