How about AUS8?

CrimsonTideShooter

CrimsonTideShooter

Joined
Oct 23, 2010
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I just bought to lawman knives in AUS8 and I want to know about this steel. I know it's not on par with 154cm or similar steels, but it's at least ok right? I bought these to be users, not safe queens that will only cut paper. Is AUS8 a pretty decent steel for a hard use knife?
 
Don't sweat the steel choice. :eek:

Edge Geometry and Heat Treatment are just as important.



You got a good knife, go out and put it to the test,

...I bet it will serve you well. :thumbup: :cool: :thumbup:





Big Mike
 
From my experience, I'd take Aus-8 over 8cr13MoV every time. I've found that Aus-8 tends to deform or bend a bit under use that would make 8cr13Mov chip like crazy (I hope I explained that right...basically, I've found that if you take an 8cr13MoV blade, cut up a box with it, and happen to graze a staple or something, that blade will tend to chip. With an Aus-8 blade cutting up the same box, however, I've found that the edge might deform a bit, but not chip).

I'm not a big fan of aus-8, but it's certainly better than 8cr13alphabetsoup.
 
I currently have a SOG seal team elite as my main outdoors knife. It has battoned,whittled,chopped and the edge holds up very well. I wouldnt say it is the best steel but for general use it is good. I have had a SOG trident folder and a cold steel recon 1 that had good results also. It beats 8cr13 anyday.
 
Real AUS-8A is very good steel and if it's HTed right it will do anything 90% of knife users would ever want to do and not blink. Easy to sharpen, takes a extremely fine edge and it's tough.
 
My Aus-8 knives do great :thumbup:

I'm not too big on comparing steels unless your talking about rust resistance. As long as its not 420 or 'china stainless' your not going to notice a massive difference in how 'tough' a steel is over another one of identical geometry.
 
Ok that sounds good! I'm not big into comparing steels either I just had no knowledge at all about AUS 8. I have no qualms about sharpening a blade ever so often so every knife I own doesn't have to be zdp189 or s90v. I just wanted to make sure that this steel had a pretty good rep around here and it seems it does. That makes me even more happy I bought both of these.

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm going to use it and be happy doing it. :thumbup:

EDIT: Since we are on the subject what HRC rating do you think these blades have?
 
Not as good as 154CM .Closer to 440B .My experience is with the original CS Master Hunter .It performed very well and I've had no complaints with it.
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
Ok that sounds good! I'm not big into comparing steels either I just had no knowledge at all about AUS 8. I have no qualms about sharpening a blade ever so often so every knife I own doesn't have to be zdp189 or s90v. I just wanted to make sure that this steel had a pretty good rep around here and it seems it does. That makes me even more happy I bought both of these.

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm going to use it and be happy doing it. :thumbup:

EDIT: Since we are on the subject what HRC rating do you think these blades have?
Click to expand...

Around 59.5 or 60 RC usually for the CS stuff.
 
Ankerson said:
Around 59.5 or 60 RC usually for the CS stuff.
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Well that's not bad at all. My manix 2 probably runs right around there.

I was thinking it would be somewhere around 55-56 based on some of the reviews I've read. They were bashing it like no tommorow. Those folks probably have some sort of problem with cold steel though.
 
Big Mike said:
Don't sweat the steel choice. :eek:

Edge Geometry and Heat Treatment are just as important.


Big Mike
Click to expand...


Agreed. Though AUS8 is usually a safe bet when it comes to steel. I wouldn't count on it for incredibly intense tasks, e.g. prying open jaws of robotic adamantium sharks, but for EDC it is more than enough. My AUS8 EDC has served me well.
 
AUS8 is actually one of my favorite "working knife" steels. Probably in my top 5. I've had several knives in it, and they always performed just as they needed to.
 
mete said:
Not as good as 154CM .Closer to 440B .My experience is with the original CS Master Hunter .It performed very well and I've had no complaints with it.
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I agree with mete. AUS8, heat treated to a 59 has lower edge retention than 154CM at 59. (KaBar Large Dozier in AUS8 vs. BM Griptilian)

However, AUS8, with its lack of carbides, takes an extremely fine edge with not much effort. It will hold that edge better than 420HC or 440A.

I find that an AUS8 blade makes for an excellent EDC because it does take that very fine edge so easily and does hold it for quite a spell.
 
I don't think there is a problem with it at all and my way of thinking is basically this; unless there is large gap in type of steel between the knives being decided upon, it is the least important aspect. It's cheap, easy, quick to sharpen a knife (with a $2 pocket sharpener if need be) but what do you do to make a knife have a stronger, more durable construction and lock mechanism?

There are other views and many different needs but I definitely wouldn't pay 3x more for a different steel that is a real-world noticeable upgrade in edge-retention, not when it takes 30 seconds or less to sharpen a knife.
 
OrdnanceBubbaUSMC said:
I don't think there is a problem with it at all and my way of thinking is basically this; unless there is large gap in type of steel between the knives being decided upon, it is the least important aspect. It's cheap, easy, quick to sharpen a knife (with a $2 pocket sharpener if need be) but what do you do to make a knife have a stronger, more durable construction and lock mechanism?

There are other views and many different needs but I definitely wouldn't pay 3x more for a different steel that is a real-world noticeable upgrade in edge-retention, not when it takes 30 seconds or less to sharpen a knife.
Click to expand...

Good point. I really like this knife so I'm glad the steel isn't complete garbage. I just can't believe how solid this knife locks up. There is blade play in every one of my knives except this one, so CS does something right.


Can anyone fill me in on the locking mechanism?
 
Benchmade and Cold Steel have excellent AUS 8 steel. Benchmade grinds their blades a little thinner, and CS a little thicker. Both will take a very sharp edge without too much effort. If CS is running theirs up to 59-60 HRc, sign me up.
 
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