CRKT's AUS8A Stainless: How Hard?

C

Confederate

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Sep 5, 2005
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I was told some time ago that CRKT at one time was putting out AUS8 blades that were only about 53 on the Rockwell scale. Then later someone said they got 56. Has anyone ever formally tested CRKT's AUS8? It's been said on these boards that CRKT has always made their steel "soft." But just how soft is soft? I'd think 53-56 would certainly get someone's attention.
 
I've no idea what the RC hardness values might be, but I've found CRKT's steel perfectly adequate for day-to-day utility tasks.
 
i dont know about their AUS 8 but i know that their AUS 4 is up to par as far as im concerned. i dont see why their higher grade steel would be any less acceptable.

JLee
 
Welllll...my AUS-4 M16 model got dull when anything touched the blade!
'Course it was easy to re-sharpen, but who wants to do that every time you open a letter with it?

Same with CRKT's 3Cr13. I have a Neck Peck (fixed) that rolls its edge when/if the edge touches the FRN sheath.
 
Ive got an M-21 that takes a good edge and keeps it. although I can say that my old M-16 was a pos work knife.
 
flashlife said:
Welllll...my AUS-4 M16 model got dull when anything touched the blade!
Click to expand...
Just make sure you keep the blade edge down when it's snowing. Couple of flakes hitting the edge will take the edge right off it!

BTW, what's involved with measuring Rockwell hardness? Do you have to hit it with something or scratch it? How long does it take?

I notice that most knife reviews don't test Rockwell levels. Might be a good idea.

Thanks for input, though. Have to admit that I love the look and feel of the M21-04.
 
flashlife said:
Welllll...my AUS-4 M16 model got dull when anything touched the blade!
'Course it was easy to re-sharpen, but who wants to do that every time you open a letter with it?

Same with CRKT's 3Cr13. I have a Neck Peck (fixed) that rolls its edge when/if the edge touches the FRN sheath.
Click to expand...

ive had the same results with CRKT's:thumbdn:
 
I have several M-16T's here with the AUS Steel. It's ok. But just ok. Aus4 is about as good as a beer can. But less useful.

You mus t remember that AUS 8 is a step below 440-c which is a cutlery steel. It is closer to 440-b, which is on the lower end of quality for a knife blade. It is popular for knives in highly corrosive environments. But not much of an edge holder. 440-A is worse still. You see a lot of cheaper diving knives made of it. It is way below par for a knife blade. AUS -4 is lower still. There use to be a poster here on the forums who expelled to virtues of the lower grade steels since they have such small carbides. So does Lead! LOL!!!

The 440-A and B steels are so poor that they have given 44o a bad rep. Sad, since 440-C is a verygood steel. Many fine makers have sworn by it. Hibben, Warriski, it's good stuff. Better in many ways than some of the super steels discussed here on the forums so often. Holds a good edge. Not prone to chiping. Very rust resistant. With Heat Treating being very well understood. I really can't find much wrong with it.

Tha AUS steels are just yet another attemp to produce a cheap, easy to machine steel. And for that, it works.

One thing is for sure, you will never catch my old buddy, (the disigner of the M-16 Knives for CR.)Kit Carson making any of his knives out of AUS4-6-8. I've been told there is a grade called AUS-10, but I've never seen it. It is supposed to be teh equal of 440-C.
 
AUS4 is definitely one of the lowest end steel with a "name" which I wouldn't cut paper with. AUS8 is on par with 440C or better if given the heat treated right, try that with Al Mar, and you will be surprised this "low end" can be as good as VG-10, amazingly keen edge and split hair with no effort.
 
Confederate, I know what you mean. Its hard to get much tech data from the manufacturers. Perhaps they don't want us to know. Not sure. I've been collecting knives for 48 years. Have over 502 knives. Some good, some not so good, and some just plain.... well, you know what I mean. Most all the 8A's that I could verify put the Rc @57 to 59. That would probably give you a 58. Very good for EDC. Several of my EDC's are 8A, and they are great. My Friend, I would be glad to help you any way I can. One thing for sure, I don't Quote my Opinion as Fact, as some others do, just because they don't have the facts, so, they make them up and hope we'll believe that B.S. Have to agree with the comments on 4A.
 
Per AGRussell's website (I checked two knives) CRKT takes AUS8A to 56-58 rockwell.
 
ivan51 said:
ive had the same results with CRKT's:thumbdn:
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Maybe it would perform better if you resharpened it for a more obtuse angle?

I wouldnt say that the AUS steels are all bad. I havent had too many CRKT knives, i sold my stiff kiss, but it was from.. more than 10 years ago so i dont know what steel it used.
I think that given a good heat treatment AUS4 can be a good metal for knives in certain uses. Some people said 420 is junk but Buck makes it work well.
 
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Interesting comments about AUS-8. I have a Benchmade Ambush, AUS-8 blade. This knife is really sharp out of box. I haven't used it much yet so cant say anything about sharpening it, but it is one the sharpest knives I have bought and well made for the price.
 
As I mentioned above my CRKT blades (AUS-4 & 3Cr13) don't hold edges well.

I have no CRKT's in AUS-8, but ALL my other AUS-8 knives, KaBar Dozier, AGR Featherlite, etc hold edges really well...as does that AUS-8 look-a-like steel 8Cr13MoV used on Byrds. I have no gripes with those AUS-8s.
 
Well, i have askes a young lady from CRKT at a show about hardness of their "Drifters" blades and she told me it would be around 59HRC.
 
flashlife said:
Welllll...my AUS-4 M16 model got dull when anything touched the blade!
'Course it was easy to re-sharpen, but who wants to do that every time you open a letter with it?

Same with CRKT's 3Cr13. I have a Neck Peck (fixed) that rolls its edge when/if the edge touches the FRN sheath.
Click to expand...

In that case i would think about two possibilities:

1. Bad blade: Replacement on warranty
2. Bad sharpening skills: Do better. maybe put on a complete new edge. Expecially if there is a rolled edge.

I have had a Neckie in 3Cr13 that performed very well.
 
Ive had several and many of them from the start of them till recently and keep going back because of sum of the nice designs they offer but like a sucker i waste my money because the steel in the blades compared to something a little more money ( not much) or even equal well it just sucks!
 
Confederate said:
BTW, what's involved with measuring Rockwell hardness? Do you have to hit it with something or scratch it? How long does it take?

I notice that most knife reviews don't test Rockwell levels. Might be a good idea.
Click to expand...

Hi,

It takes a special machine that costs a pretty good chunk of change. It involves pressure placed on a penetrater, (usually diamond for blade hardness), and then taking a reading off a scale. Hardness can also be measured by scratch testing with a set of special files. If one file won't scratch but the next one does, then the hardness is some where between them.

Most tool steels, including all the 440 series, and AUS series, can be hardened into the 56Rc to 63Rc range. What counts is, how much did they temper, (draw), the steel after hardening. Some types, depending on the steel need to be drawn back to a softer hardness to achieve a usable edge. Otherwise, the steel maybe too brittle and continuously fracture at the edge during use.

I do have access to a Rockwell tester at work. I've tested a number of my knives. I have some Okapi's that test 48Rc-53Rc, (1055 carbon I think), an Opinel, (1095 carbon), that tests Rc59, and a couple of Rough Rider slipjoints, (440A steel, for you steel snobs:D), that test at 55Rc and 57Rc respectively. Oh and a Kershaw Vapor, (AUS6), that tests 57Rc.

So as you can see, those "cheap" steels can be almost as hard as the "premium" steels. What matters is the temper for edge holding, and the angle of the edge for durability.

dalee
 
Michael Lovett said:
You mus t remember that AUS 8 is a step below 440-c which is a cutlery steel. It is closer to 440-b, which is on the lower end of quality for a knife blade. It is popular for knives in highly corrosive environments. But not much of an edge holder.
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I beg to differ on AUS-8 and 440B. I have found their edge holding to be just fine. You are aware that 440B was used by Randall for quite some time, aren't you?

Michael Lovett said:
Tha AUS steels are just yet another attemp to produce a cheap, easy to machine steel. And for that, it works.

I've been told there is a grade called AUS-10, but I've never seen it. It is supposed to be teh equal of 440-C.
Click to expand...

How is it that you can spout off like an expert, swinging the broad brush about the true purpose of "AUS steels," yet state you have no experience with AUS-10 (BTW, there is indeed a grade of steel called AUS-10, and I have two knives in that steel)?:confused: I'm aware that you're a knifemaker, but in this regard, it doesn't mean much, as it is knife use that really counts.

Just which companies' AUS steels have you used? Any companies other than CRKT (I personally feel that CRKT's AUS-8 is not up to par with other companies' AUS-8)? I have several Spydercos and Al Mars with AUS-8 steel, and they have been excellent performers for me.

Regards,
3G
 
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