CS Mauarder Bowie Awsome Aus8s?

R

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OK here's a dumb question, but from seeing various different sites and info. Some one kept telling me the CS Marauder Bowie was first made in Aus 8 then later Aus 8A. Seeing some sites selling it has it listed as Aus 8 so that even got me confused a bit.

Mine has been doing the water borne recreation and work pretty well! I regulate it to light to medium duty but it had its fair share of the only knife we had because people forgot the other packs, duties. It was light weight enough it was no bother when they tipped canoe and had to swim for it. And they wonder why I waste time tyingthe packs to the gunnels.
 
It is my understanding that Aus8, Aus8A and 8A are all the same steel made by Aichi Steel Corp, Japan.
 
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I'm not a metallurgist or bladesmith, but my understanding is that the A in AUS-8A indicates that the steel has been annealed by the manufacturer. Annealing can do a variety of things, but in this case I believe the main advantage is that it makes the steel softer and easier to work with (machining). So AUS-8A comes annealed directly from Aichi, while AUS-8 does not. Other than that they are the same steel. I recall a thread from years ago where both Sal Glesser and A.G. Russell indicated this to be the case, so I believe it's correct. :thumbup:
 
All Aus8 steel made by Aichi is annealed. And Aichi calls it "A8". In the U.S. it is called Aus8 or 8A.
A steel called Aus8A doesn't exist as far as the manufacturer is concerned.
Hence many knowledgeable people state that Aus8 and 8A are one and the same.

"AUS-8(Aichi) - Aichi name for Annealed AUS-8 steel"
http://zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=aus-8&ss=1
 
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I've had my eye on the Marauder for at least a year and it's on my list of CS knives to buy, yet they keep coming out with other cutlery that keeps pushing the Marauder down the list.

Now if they made one in CTS/XHP, I might give it priority.
 
I was going to get the OSS and an OSI as the same problem you had. Got other ones to fill different needs. I use mine for carrying on and in water. Trout fishing in the stream is where this knife I find excels. Its light enough carry straped to what ever you put it on and its big curved blade is great from cutting brush or a mess of fishing line some one cleaned out of his reel or had a big snag or lost a fish and got rid of gobs of fishing line. I'm keeping mine for light to medium duty use intentionally though, but when I even have a few other knives to reach for when I'm in the field if I got this one on me, I usually reach for it first. I learned the hard way having "Too much knife" is better than not having "Enough Knife". I can't wait to see how this thing will work on a deer or bear this year, I won't be trying to hack through big bones I cut the tendons or use a bone saw (or clean hack saw) for that. It will be one of the great set of tools I will use to process the game.

The Marauder is a great look-ti-cool knife but is also a great dang useful one with lots of field uses I'm finding, also its nice to have if feral dogs decide I'm in their "Territory" or I'm their target for the day. It is greatly what CS says it is and what it can do, for the price point even its a great knife! When I first asked about my need for a stainless bowie for use on a marine or wet usage and price was an issue, people steered me to the CS Marauder. Yeah a Sanmia III trailmaster would of been better but cost was an issue. I'm very satisfied with this knife so far, the S&W S&R 8" bowie I have always has some issues (got it when was an ignoramus) to do the tasks I wanted it to do...which weren't much. The Marauder so far has done about any thing I tried with it. Its batoned kindling and such because I had it on me and it was raining, but I'm not going to use it for larger logs. (there are other tools for that) And what can I say its a pleasure and fun to use it when I got it on me.
 
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