Cold Steel Ti-Lites: Now AUS 8

C

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This knife used to be made of 440A and is now AUS 8. Does the upgrade translate to substantially better knife or does the long, narrow design of the blade mean it's more likely to be damaged with heavy use?
 
I actually liked it when it was 440A. It was nice enough to shave with. Didn't cut anything with it though. Just occasionally some toilet paper to say "ahhhh", that's sharp. Stabbed into some cardboard once and the tip slightly impacted.

Do I think Aus8 will make it better? I don't know. You can understand my reluctance to turn my back on the old 440A that has given my such nice shaves, right?
 
orthogonal1 said:
My Ti-Lites, Ti handled. were AUS8 back in 2002.

When did they change to 440A?
Click to expand...

I think he means the zytel handled ones. AUS8 is a good improvement, not that the knife will cut any better.
 
True, the blade profile is no great slicer.

I carried one of the Ti handled ones for a work knife and it did well. Mostly scraping, zip ties, wire, and opening various plastic stuff. Put a 400-600 grit edge on it at a more acute than factory angle and it did well. Never had to worry too much about getting it dirty and the lock was very solid.
 
As blades get longer and narrower, it's usually better to have a tougher steel (not necessarily a better one). AUS 8 may be a little harder than 440A, or at least not able to take impact as well. That was my only concern. I do know that Cold Steel came into a lot of 440A and that it's being depleted. This may be the reason they're moving to AUS 8. They're also apparently acquiring some VG-1, which has a higher carbon content than AUS 8. So we see some of their Vaquero and other knives changing to VG-1. The Grande remains using AUS 8, so what I'm seeing in Cold Steel may actually be improvements.
 
It doesn't make it a much better utility knife because the style of knife that it is, but it is still an improvement overall on great knife.

Stay sharp!
~DH
 
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