Don't kill me, asking about Aus-8

VampyreWolf

VampyreWolf

Joined
Feb 12, 2001
Messages
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I only have ATS-55 to compare to, so this won't be too difficult.

I am buying a Dragonfly soon, and have a question for you guys.

I have 3 spydies (the spyderco.com forum members know the fate of #4 :( ) and plan to buy #5.

So far:
Plain, FRN Delica
Serrated, Tuffram Cricket
Ladybug

All are ATS-55... What is your opinion of Aus-8?

I don't like the SS handles but thats the only way to get ATS-55. I prefer the FRN, but it has Aus-8.

Anyhelp? :confused:
 
Hi VWolf,
It's a good steel with good stain resistance. It won't hold an edge as long as some of the other harder "wondersteels", (i.e. 440V, now known as S60V, or 420V, now known as S90V), or even ATS-34 but it sharpens very easily. A lot of folks here will call it "cheap" which it is in the fact that it's use is less to the manufacturer. Don't be afraid of it because it's a good user steel. Just keep in mind you'll have to sharpen it more often.
 
I take my pocketstone with me in my gear, so it won't create any problems there.

So it won't hold an edge as well as ATS-55, but will easier to sharpen?
 
Rust isn't a big factor for me ATM, but it will be in a couple years when I move out to BC. I'll be moving to 440V(Chinook/Mil) by then though.

I have yet to even come close to staining my Delica out here in Saskatchewan, Canada.:D
 
I don't see too much difference as far as dificulty of sharpening. Actually, ATS55 seemed slightly easier to me. Both are good steels but, I prefer ATS55.
 
One thing I really like about AUS8 is its fine grain structure. I find that I can get a better edge on my old Viele and micarta Calypso Jr. than any of my knives with more exotic steels. Sure it doesn't hold it quite as long but then you have the fun of sharpening it again :D.
 
I have a few AUS-8 knives, from different manufacturers. They all get incredibly, obscenely sharp. I've had people tell me that there's no way the vanadium should make that much of a difference for sharpening, the grain refinement is more of a micro-level thing. Well, whatever the reason, my 8A knives are pretty uniformly the sharpest in my collection. VG-10 seems to get similarly outrageously sharp. I do have knives with other vanadium alloy steels -- like BG-42 and 420V -- but those knives have very thick edges which I haven't thinned down all the way, so I can't do an apples-to-apples.

Actually, I'll tell you a secret. A few months ago, A.G. Russell sent me a few Deerhunters so that I could comment on the steels. One was 8A, one was ATS-34, and one was a steel I won't identify. First thing I did was sharpen all three up, using the exact same angles and methods, so I could be assured that I was starting out with exactly the same edge on each. Well, the ATS-34 and the mystery steel version ended up with exactly the same edges on them. The 8A version was so much sharper, and performed so much better out of the gate, that it really wasn't fair compaing them, for initial performance! Obviously, 8A does lose its edge faster than ATS-34 in the end. I shipped all those knives back so I can't repeat the test, although I know that between my personal Deerhunters, the 8A is sharper than the ATS-34 version.

Joe
 
That's very interesting Joe. My observations were much more subjective so it's good to see them backed up by more objective tests. I agree that VG10 seems to take a similar edge. I find very little difference in performance between my AUS8 and VG10 Calypsos, except that the VG10 holds an edge longer.
 
Ok, looks like I will be getting the FRN/Aus-8 one...

if it acts like VG-10, but a fraction of the cost...:rolleyes:
 
f it acts like VG-10, but a fraction of the cost
Click to expand...

Well, just to make sure we're clear ...

8A gets outrageously sharp like VG-10, but definitely doesn't hold an edge like VG-10! But 8A is tough, and very stain-resistant.

I feel it's a perfectly acceptable 2nd-tier steel, and several of my favorite knives use it. Micarta Calypso Jr., for example, and my A.G. Russell Deerhunter.
 
Hey Mr. Joe T. You forgot to thown in the part about heat treating(or maybe I missed it?) ;) My timberline vallotton has AUS-8 and it's very good. Spyderco produces all around great stuff, so I'm sure there's no problem there. But I've heard some pretty nasty stuff about AUS-8 when it comes from some of the OTHER guys. ;) But that's a given, I suppose. I've heard nasty stuff about just about every other blade steel as well.
 
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