Comparison Test - Japanese AUS8A vs American CTS XHP

Cold Steel Knives

Cold Steel Knives

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For 2015 Cold Steel has switched from our classic Japanese AUS8A steel to American CTS XHP steel on many of our folders.
We have also upgraded our black blade coatings from Tuff-Ex to DLC (Diamond Like Coating).

Many of our fans have asked how this will affect performance, so, in true Cold Steel fashion we got rope, knives and a camera, and we put it to the test!

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How many shearing "push" cuts will these knives make? Watch this video to find out!
 
That video does not surprise me in the least. This is why I was happy about the upgrade in steel.
 
Ankerson said:
Feeling sorry for the guys doing the cutting. LOL :D
Click to expand...

I know there can always be small variables that could affect the outcome when testing, but the difference was huge. Have you tested CTS XHP Jim ? If so, have you found similar results with this steel ?

I had been kicking around the idea of picking up a Mini Recon, and was trying to convince myself the difference in price was worth it. It would appear it is, even though I have never had any complaints with CS AUS-8...
 
Now THAT is impressive. I've always liked AUS-8 the way CS does it, but... sigh... looks like another CS blade is coming my way, soon.
 
338375 said:
I know there can always be small variables that could affect the outcome when testing, but the difference was huge. Have you tested CTS XHP Jim ? If so, have you found similar results with this steel ?

I had been kicking around the idea of picking up a Mini Recon, and was trying to convince myself the difference in price was worth it. It would appear it is, even though I have never had any complaints with CS AUS-8...
Click to expand...


Yeah, in a few knives.

I don't push cut in testing on rope.

But there is a large difference between AUS-8 and XHP.
 
Will the Marauder bowie change from AUS 8 to this new steel? I've been wanting one but if there is going to be an upgrade I will wait.
 
Ankerson said:
Feeling sorry for the guys doing the cutting. LOL :D
Click to expand...

Those guys were hurting!
We wore through several pairs of gloves during filming.
The blade lost some bite for sure, but it was still going strong.
We did consider going back the next day and trying to kill that whole spool of rope but their hands were so swollen and bruised we figured we'd call it quits.
I think we probably had another 1000 cuts in there. Maybe more.
Perhaps one day we'll try and push it to the limit
We were all super impressed with the steel and with the DLC coat

We actually gave the test knife away in a competition (for our email subscribers)
We left it exactly as it was at the end of the test (all dirty and smeared from the rope) and got all the guys to sign the test label.
Should be a fun souvenir for a fan :)
 
Cold Steel Knives said:
Those guys were hurting!
We wore through several pairs of gloves during filming.
The blade lost some bite for sure, but it was still going strong.
We did consider going back the next day and trying to kill that whole spool of rope but their hands were so swollen and bruised we figured we'd call it quits.
I think we probably had another 1000 cuts in there. Maybe more.
Perhaps one day we'll try and push it to the limit
We were all super impressed with the steel and with the DLC coat

We actually gave the test knife away in a competition (for our email subscribers)
We left it exactly as it was at the end of the test (all dirty and smeared from the rope) and got all the guys to sign the test label.
Should be a fun souvenir for a fan :)
Click to expand...


I bet, and the reason why I don't push cut in my testing, learned that lesson awhile back. LOL

Draw cuts kill the edges much faster, saves a lot of rope and pain, good clean manila rope isn't cheap. :D

That will be a nice piece for someone. :thumbup:
 
Impressive, I expected around double the cuts. Awesome performance and great value when the price is considered. Love to see some smaller fixed blade designs using xhp. Going to have to pick up a new code 4
 
CTS-XHP is a powdered version of stainless D2 (440HX). Would be most similar to CPM-D2. That's the performance level you are getting over AUS-8.

Still easy to sharpen, gets very sharp, American made and not super steel pricey. Great move CS!
 
Nice :) I'm impressed.
It seems you used only a small portion of the blade during the whole experiment. Thus in real life there should be 10s of thousands more push cuts in a blade that size.
 
actually according to tests done by Ankerson, CTS-XHP perform similar to S30V

Stays Sharp said:
CTS-XHP is a powdered version of stainless D2 (440HX). Would be most similar to CPM-D2. That's the performance level you are getting over AUS-8.

Still easy to sharpen, gets very sharp, American made and not super steel pricey. Great move CS!
Click to expand...
 
Neomentat said:
actually according to tests done by Ankerson, CTS-XHP perform similar to S30V
Click to expand...

Actually according to his test ranking, CTS-XHP (CTS-XHP - 240 - Military - 60.5 RC) is closer to D2 (Dozier D2 - 220 - Dozier K2) than the vanadium carbide steel S30v (S30V - 300 - Military - 60 RC). This is because XHP is Carpenter's powdered version of stainless D2.

Beyond that, Ankerson himself can tell you... Like I said: CTS-XHP is a powdered version of stainless D2 (440HX). Would be most similar to CPM-D2. That's the performance level you are getting over AUS-8.

It is what it is, we can't change what the steel is. Here is more info direct from Carpenter https://www.cartech.com/ssalloysprod.aspx?id=3710 Carpenter themselves practically calls it D2. I don't see what's wrong with that. It's a good steel. CS can't make bombastic claims like it's adamntium though unfortunately right?
 
Stays Sharp said:
Actually according to his test ranking, CTS-XHP (CTS-XHP - 240 - Military - 60.5 RC) is closer to D2 (Dozier D2 - 220 - Dozier K2) than the vanadium carbide steel S30v (S30V - 300 - Military - 60 RC). This is because XHP is Carpenter's powdered version of stainless D2.

Beyond that, Ankerson himself can tell you... Like I said: CTS-XHP is a powdered version of stainless D2 (440HX). Would be most similar to CPM-D2. That's the performance level you are getting over AUS-8.

It is what it is, we can't change what the steel is. Here is more info direct from Carpenter https://www.cartech.com/ssalloysprod.aspx?id=3710 Carpenter themselves practically calls it D2. I don't see what's wrong with that. It's a good steel. CS can't make bombastic claims like it's adamntium though unfortunately right?
Click to expand...

Irregardless of what it is similar to, it certainly works... I've used quite a few of the "super steels ", but have never tried CTS-XHP. I'm going to pull the trigger on a Recon Mini spear point and check it out.
I REALLY wish they would have offered the Hunter series knives in this steel.
 
Cold Steel Knives said:
We're still working on the adamantium :D
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Is that a new model ? :D

Why did you decide to change the Hunter series to 3V instead of the CTS-XHP ? I've never had a knife in 3V either, and will be snagging a new Pendleton Mini when they are released.
Not sure if it has already been covered but is there an ETA on the Pendletons being released ?
 
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