I don't always buy knives with budget steels, but when I do, I prefer AUS10A

[Starmarion]

I've got a few Cold Steel knives in AUS10A steel, and I've been very impressed with this steel. Does anyone know of any other manufacturers that use AUS10 steel with their knives?

 

[ferider]

There are plenty, Spyderco (in the past) and Demko (today), among others. Good stuff.

Lot's of Japanese kitchen knives use it, for instance:

 

[RickHuf]

It has quickly become a favorite steel.

The Demko 20.5's in aus10 are frickin awesome. I wish he would put out some larger ones. Even if it was a ad20s "lite" model in grivory and aus10. Something like that lol.

Just remember though, cold steel... Demko... They do it right. Not everyone will be equal.

Schrade (new schrade) has a few aus10 knives and they are about as meh as you can get. I had the exertion fixed blade which was a nice chunk of steel but it was hollow ground and very chippy.

I dunno ..ymmv.

 

[ShaiHulud]

I like aus10a
Took a shark slicer out to camping in aus10a and it stayed sharp and slicey the whole time even though I used it as an ice pick on a few occasions

 

[knarfeng]

Personally, I don't consider AUS10 to be a "budget steel".
For me "Budget" steels are 3CR, 4034, 4116, 420HC, 14C28, 13C26. Made in bulk, can be formed by "fine blanking", don't contain large amounts of carbides. This is not to say that you can't make good knives out of them. But these alloys are less expensive to purchase and less expensive to process.

AUS 10 needs to be machined. AUS 10 contains enough chromium carbide to give it improved wear resistance compared to that of "budget steels". In edge retention, it's very similar to VG10, 154CM, ATS-34. That's better than 440C, not as good as Powder Metallurgy alloys.

AUS 10 composition in wt %:
Carbon 0.95-1.10
Chromium 13-14.5
Nickel <0.3
Vanadium 0.1-0.25
Molybdenum 0.1-0.3

High strength stainless steel plate – AICHI TECHNO METAL FUKAMI Co., Ltd. | rolling and processing technology

www.atm-fukaumi.co.jp

AUS 10 has been around for quite some time I bought a blade made from AUS 10 about 20 years ago. It just has not been in the limelight.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I like what Cold Steel has done with it on the Counter Point and Mayhem. The Counter Point I have in the 4 and 6" versions really seem to play well with the slightly thicker edge compared to the Mayhem. I think my biggest gripe with the Mayhem is that you are getting S35VN on the 5 Max and for only a few dollars less you were getting AUS10. Lile others have said, it's a great steel. It's just hard to pay premium prices for it.

That said, EDC knives rotate and come and go, but tucked in my boot there is ALWAYS the 6" Counter Point, and it has been a nice back up when I have forgotten to bring a bigger knife.

 

[Monofletch]

Kubey uses it.

 

[Starmarion]

Personally, I don't consider AUS10 to be a "budget steel".
For me "Budget" steels are 3CR, 4034, 4116, 420HC, 14C28, 13C26. Made in bulk, can be formed by "fine blanking", don't contain large amounts of carbides. This is not to say that you can't make good knives out of them. But these alloys are less expensive to purchase and less expensive to process.

AUS 10 needs to be machined. AUS 10 contains enough chromium carbide to give it improved wear resistance compared to that of "budget steels". In edge retention, it's very similar to VG10, 154CM, ATS-34. That's better than 440C, not as good as Powder Metallurgy alloys.

AUS 10 composition in wt %:
Carbon 0.95-1.10
Chromium 13-14.5
Nickel <0.3
Vanadium 0.1-0.25
Molybdenum 0.1-0.3

High strength stainless steel plate – AICHI TECHNO METAL FUKAMI Co., Ltd. | rolling and processing technology

www.atm-fukaumi.co.jp

AUS 10 has been around for quite some time I bought a blade made from AUS 10 about 20 years ago. It just has not been in the limelight.

That's a good point. I hadn't thought of that. Cold Steel must have some good prices because you can get really quality knives for good prices then with AUS10A steel, and I've been extremely pleased with both the knives and the blade steel. That's why I asked if any other manufacturers were using this steel. It may be that Cold Steel is also doing a great job with heat treat. As far as what I've seen from retailers - and I have not shopped everywhere - there doesn't appear to be that many knives made with this steel relatively speaking to other steels you referenced as being comparable. I did not realize AUS10 had been around as long as it apparently has. I have seen quite a bit of AUS-8 knives for sale. Thanks for your input and to everyone else for that matter!

 

[Tsujigiri]

Seems to be an underappreciated steel, probably in large part because it's so close to the much more popular VG-10. I wonder why everyone went that route before and it's seeing a resurgence now.

I have an Oremake (Olight/Oknife's foray into kitchen knives and supposedly made by Kizer) paring knife with AUS10 core San Mai / Damascus, and wouldn't mind seeing it used more.

 

[DangerZone98]

Still got my Voyager XL in Aus10a. One of the sharpest knives I got outta the box.

 

[A.L.]

I only have experience with Cold Steel's AUS-8A but I love it. Holds edge fine and it's super easy to sharpen.
Gotta try their AUS-10A too soon.

 

[DMG]

How does Cold Steels aus10a compare to say S30v?

 

[Quiet]

How does Cold Steels aus10a compare to say S30v?

From a personal experience cutting standpoint, it seems on par. My comparisons are multiple AUS10A Cold Steel Voyagers versus a few of Buck's knives I own in S30v. They both take and hold a very keen edge, and dull down in similar timeframes for general use.

 

[DMG]

From a personal experience cutting standpoint, it seems on par. My comparisons are multiple AUS10A Cold Steel Voyagers versus a few of Buck's knives I own in S30v. They both take and hold a very keen edge, and dull down in similar timeframes for general use.

Thanks. I was mentally lumping it in with aus8 and kind of avoiding knives with it. Mayne I need to try it.

 

[Quiet]

Thanks. I was mentally lumping it in with aus8 and kind of avoiding knives with it. Mayne I need to try it.

At the prices generally asked for the CS Voyager series knives, it’d really be a crying shame not to give it a try, honestly. If nothing else, they make great users for tasks that you wouldn’t use your nicer knives on.