I almost hate to ask...but....how awful is Spydie AUS-6?

L

Lavan

Joined
Nov 8, 2000
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I really wanna get started on my project of gettin a stainless Delica all fancied up wid engraving an stuff, but it only comes in AUS-6 !!!!!

RUMOR has it that it will also have VG-10 ....NEXT YEAR.... but I'm an OLD geezer.

How good, bad, or indifferent is the Spyderco AUS-6 ?

Will I be shamed beyond belief or is it just a buncha hype that I won't even notice?

I......really......like VG-10 !

But then, I liked Pablum when I wuz a baby.

:confused: ;) :D
 
Spyderco put the AUS-6 into the SS Delica to make it affordable.
Now that they have the low price Byrd series, they will upgrade the SS Spydies to VG-10.
The AUS-6 that Spyderco uses is genuine AUS steel. Not a knock-off that sometimes is used.
So, it's no high-end steel, but surely no bad steel.
Don't know if you will notice it, I probably won't :D
The new VG-10 SS models will probably be more expensive, so grab the AUS-6 models while you can! :)
 
I have had both good and bad AUS6 just like with other steels. My Serengeti Folder by CRKT keeps an edge pretty darn good and it's AUS6 but my Sears Craftsman/Ken Onion designed "Workknife" in AUS6 needs sharpened nearly everyday. Of course it is a much thinner blade than the CRKT knife so maybe that has something to do with it.

It isn't a bad performer. Certainly better than 420HC or 440A IMO.
 
It's better than other things out there, and mine seems to work better than a CRKT or two of the same formula, but it is nowhere near as good as my VG10 Delica, s30v Native, or ATS55 Delica.

It seems a little silly to me to put all of that work and time into decorating a knife with only acceptable steel.

Try finding a stainless Rookie which will have ATS55 steel. It's about the size of a Delica and the same general idea, and I think a little slicker-looking. They aren't too common because they are old and discontinued, but I would try to find one before putting too much into a knife that is so far below the best Spyderco has. Here is one that has some texture added, but you can see what the shape looks like:
http://www.customjewelshop.com/knives/rookiestainless.jpg

The biggest problem is finding a good price on one, or one at all in good condition, before next year. But it's worth looking.
 
I figure it this way, my most often used EDC carry is my VG10 Stretch, it gets touched up every couple weeks but could probably go at least a month between sharpenings. I think a Spyderco AUS-6 blade, used the same amount, would probably require sharpening once a week. So, by that standard, it would have perhaps 1/3 the life expectancy of VG10, but since I too have attained geezerhood, would probably still outlast me. Put another way, if the Stretch, or another favorite of mine, the Kiwi, were AUS-6 instead of VG-10 I'd still own, carry, and use them.
 
Have a spydercard in AUS 6 and it keeps a edge pretty well. Very stain resistant and fairly tough for a stainless too. For an occasional use show peice it might actually have advantages over pricier steel.
 
I would agree with the Deacon on this as well. I have several CRKT's with AUS-6, my most used would probably be my CRKT/Crawford Falcon (small one). I'm usuallly cutting something several times a day with several different knives, and when I was using the Falcon, touch up once a week was about average. It was pretty easy to sharpen. The only 420HC blades I have are from Buck, the most used, probably being my 112, and unless it really did some hard cutting, actually got touched up about every two weeks. That was a while ago. The last few weeks, I've been using my FRN Delica (VG-10) and BM Mini-Grip (440C) a lot!! Mostly opening letters, opening boxes, a bit of clam shell opeing things, cutting some leather/stitching thread, some wire stripping, etc. Haven't had to touch the Delica and just had to touch up the Mini-grip. I prefer to keep pretty close to shaving sharp - I'm sure they would have stayed working sharp a whole lot longer. But then, for the most part, I do not classify myself has a hard user either :) Only occasionally. In a few weeks, though....I may get an opportunity to do some playing with my larger blades :D We are expecting 10 Dell Servers, and 8 Desktop PC's (6 of these will be dual headed) for the test center. Anticipated "tools" for the job - Endura, Paramilitary, Camillus Heat, BM550 Griptillian, Buck/Strider 887SBT Police Advocate and my Leatherman PST. Actually, some of my test team asked if I would bring a couple of my blades. This could be fun :D :D


- gord
 
Lavan,I wouldn't let the blade steel factor into wether or not to get the knife engraved or personalized.It will be more of a Gentleman's knife instead of a hard user.I want the floral carving/engraving like on old cap-guns.As soon as I find the right guy to do my Standard scales I'm going for it.tom.
 
Whew! I have returned to my senses. I am WAITING for ....what I want!

NUTTIN wud piss me off more than to send off an AUS6 model to be engraved, wait patiently, anticipate like crazy .....and then get it back just as the VG-10 becomes available.

While I intend the knife to be a ..."gent's" .....knife, ya know darn well it's gonna get carried an looked at a LOT. An that means I'll have it WITH me when sumpin needs cuttin.

Soooo...... VG-10 er BUST !!!

:)
 
frank k said:
Just have ‘em engrave “VG-10” on the blade, and you’re good to go. ;)
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I share the similiar sentiment. I used to doubt about AUS-6 but other than the more often sharenpening, it's all good to me. Excellent steel on user knives, not to mention it lowers the price for the knives, too. I love my Ladybug. U will use it more care-free, too, knowing that it is a good knife and yet not expensive to replace.
 
Spyderco does a great job with their AUS-6 blades. I owned several CRKT AUS-6 knives that wouldn't hold an edge for anything.
 
Aw hell, I'll respond to this. AUS-6/8 are fine steels. They have heavy Chromium content and are great rust resistant steels. Sure, they're softer steels and do not hold their edges as well as some "super steels" but their advantage is superior rust resistance and ease of sharpening.

No, they can't hack or chop or cut through tough stuff as easily as the harder stuff but the edges can be brought back to razor sharpness EASILY!

AUS-6/8 will NEVER go away because they are some of the BEST stainless steels ever and are as easily sharpened as carbon steel blades that purists still love to this day. This is because of their softness like carbon steel but their big advantage is their heavy rust resistance.

If you really USE your blades and want them to stay clean looking and don't mind sharpening them, A6/8 is your steel. If you don't care what you're blades look like after use but want ease of sharpening, stick to carbon steel like 01 and it's ilk.

Oh yeah, I forgot, heat treatment is important in stainless steels and ALL steels. Buy from a quality manufacturer like Spyderco.
 
A serrated AUS-6 blade is suprisingly nice. The serration makes cutting more efficient and holds an edge quite a bit longer. Of course, a serrated S30V blade would outlast a serrated AUS-6 one, but the AUS-6 blade takes about 2 seconds to sharpen back to razor sharp, while the S30V will take quite a bit longer. Pretty good combo if you ask me.

I'd be less enthusiastic about a plain edge AUS-6 knife, but as people have said above, Spyderco does it better than most other companies.
 
I had fairly good results with AUS (6 and 8) steels. Not VG-10 or S30V, of course, but pretty good corrosion resistance and edge retention. Not to mention that sharpening is a child's play. I was surprised by the AUS-10, however. You can't even believe it belongs to the AUS familly. So you can consider getting a Native II for engraving till the VG-10 SS Delicas arrive :cool:
 
Only reason I'm holding out for the VG10 Delica is because of the engraving I plan to have done. I agree with the lower cost, easier sharpen, etc. but if I pay for some engraving, I just WANT it to be on the knife with the better steel.

Can't use a Native because of an arthritic thumb. I really, really like the feel of the Native, but opening it is agony.

:(
 
Lavan said:
Can't use a Native because of an arthritic thumb. I really, really like the feel of the Native, but opening it is agony.
:(
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That's kind of ironic, because I also have some less than happy digits now and then (only after extensive work though, nothing severe), and if I need to cut something the 3d native is so much better to hold. But then it's not so easy to open. Raising the position of the opener hole wouldn't help, because I like to set my thumb flat on the blade spine so that would ruin it. I guess it's a no-win. The end of the lock bar is also just short of the tang's heel when closed, which adds a little extra force when opening.

Cancel my suggestion for the Rookie, because it is a little tight to open. I think just because the hole is a little closer to the pivot than most. On top of the force required, the hole sets into the handle a little when closed and it's smaller than the Delica hole.

Also, have you looked at the Salt 1? No stainless handle yet, but it's essentially a Delica with a slightly larger thumb hole. Might be handy for daily use.
 
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