Is an AUS8 knife good enough for me?

L

logastellus

Joined
Jul 15, 2007
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14
Hi, guys.

Want to get hubby a present. He goes camping a lot + some yard work (rose bushes, stuff like that.) Been looking a lot at S.O.G. stuff, team elite and seal pup. Both are AUS8. But read the steel faq and it seems that s30v is all the rage nowdays. What do you think? Should I stop looking at those 2? I think he'll be mostly cutting branches, camp fire, some plastic, whatever...

The ones I mentioned look very manly, ominous looking even. I think a man would like that. What do you guys think? Would you be happy if you got one for your birthday?

TIA!

- Susan.
 
AUS8 is an excellent steel, judging from my experience with a pair of Cold Steel Voyagers. It is not the rage like S30V, but is highly corrosion resistant, tough, takes an excellent edge (it has a pinch of vanadium in the mix) and is easy to resharpen. It should do fine for your guy.
 
Thank you, Ed. Any reputable dealers online you can recommend? http://www.knifeworks.com seems to have a huge selection. Would that be a good place to get it from?

I'll probably get the pup. The other one is just too silly looking for me. Something you go to war with, not camping with kids.
 
SOG generally makes a good product. AUS8 is fine steel. It really depends on what your husband uses it for. What type of knife does he have now? The Seal Team Elite is a very cool design. Is he more concerned with impressing his buddys with how it looks or how it works? Is he able to sharpen his own knives? If he is adept at sharpening I would go with the S30V. The S30v is more difficult to sharpen but will hold an edge longer than AUS8. The AUS8 will sharpen easily but not hold a razor edge as long as S30V. I have nothing against SOG and have a few of their fixed blades. I just buy blades with what I consider to be better steel for the same or lower prices. In many cases the worth of a chosen steel is mostly dependant on the preferences of the user.
 
I think it's a good steel. I would be happy with AUS8, S30V, VG-10, ATS-55, D2, 1095 carbon, etc. Most people would be happy with properly heat treated AUS4 and AUS6.

Are you looking specifically for a fixed blade only?
 
SOLEIL said:
SOG generally makes a good product. AUS8 is fine steel. It really depends on what your husband uses it for. What type of knife does he have now?
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just some swiss army stuff he got at home depot, I think. nothing too fancy.

The Seal Team Elite is a very cool design. Is he more concerned with impressing his buddys with how it looks or how it works? Is he able to sharpen his own knives?
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are you kiddin? We pay to have a light bulb changed. He's useless around the house.

So, I guess aus8 is ok then.

Ya, the team knife looks cool, I think but I don't see him going camping with a machete like this. He'll prob just cut himself or god forbid the kids.
 
Bungwrench said:
I think it's a good steel. I would be happy with AUS8, S30V, VG-10, ATS-55, D2, 1095 carbon, etc. Most people would be happy with properly heat treated AUS4 and AUS6.

Are you looking specifically for a fixed blade only?
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no, not fixed blade only. But wouldn't that hold better against wear & tear?
 
I would highly recommend the seal team elite it beats the pants off of the seal pup. Aus8 is a good steel and should work well for him.
 
ashtxsniper said:
I would highly recommend the seal team elite it beats the pants off of the seal pup. Aus8 is a good steel and should work well for him.
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ok. but how do you carry that, even? In your backpack? I don't see anybody strapping that to their pants... I mean, wouldn't you look a tad ridiculous, carrying a Rambo knife like that?

- Susan.
 
I just went back to their site & noticed that the big one is "Cryogenic Heat" treated. (the pup is not). I read the description, so I know what that means but is that super important to have???

- Susan.
 
I carry mine no problem it its a lot smaller than the Sog Tigershark I carry sometimes. It doesnt look rediculous to be prepared.
 
Gosh, you had to miss the SOG Revolver then, it has a double cut saw thats made for exactly the things you described.

There is nothing else in the SOG line to compare to it when it comes to camping, back packing and trimming rose bushes..........:p

Really..........check this link below and you tell me if you think it will handle what you describe.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=354507&highlight=sog+revolver

I use the gut hook on top of the blade to make straight cuts in tarps and pastic while out in the woods.



Robbie Roberson. ;)
 
logastellus,

I would recommend either the CRKT M16-13 (get the M, P, or F versions with the metal handles, not the Zytel) or a S.O.G. Revolver like Robbie suggested. I like my CRKT M16-13M because it's a folder and I every day carry (EDC) it and I 've had it for a long time. I would also recommend a little Gerber diamond pocket sharpener. It's pretty handy and he can carry that easily to sharpen his knife.

Also... if you want to go a step farther (if you REALLY love him), get him a Leatherman Charge TTi. I consider this multi-tool a full-fledged knife because you can access FOUR blades - the main one being S30V, AWESOME! - all with one hand. This tool is amazing as it also features titanium handles and an extra tool bit set that stores in the belt sheath.

Goodluck... I imagine he'll like anything you get him,
Ryan
 
Ryan -- thank you for your suggestion. Now, these knives fold and I read somewhere that a folding knife would be inferior to a fixed blade. Is that true?

CRKT seems like a very fine choice, otherwise. Back to google, I guess...

Now, where do you all buy your knives? Local hunting store or online somewhere?

Also, that online knife store I mentioned above has these darkops knives for sale. They seem pricey, which normally would be indicative of quality but I searched this forum and found nothing but derision for this product. Anybody can clue me in, perhaps? Is there some inside joke in the knife community about these guys? I guess with a name like "dark OPs" it's hard to take them seriously, right? I even saw a picture of a man chopping one in half with a sword. Wow. The specifications seemed ok though so I'm wondering what the deal is.

Thank you, guys.

- S.
 
I personally don't care for AUS steels, but for a gift for a hobbiest (sp), i think it would be perfect, because i consider AUS better than 400 series steel, while still being (usually) more affordable than 'premium' steels. And even though i wouldn't buy an AUS blade over some others, if was going to buy it, it would be from SOG.
 
I have had no complaints with the AUS8 I have had in the past. There are relative merits to both I think, but for the money I would not hesitate to get a well made one that has the looks and functionality you want. Let us know what you got your guy.
 
I would suggest a nice Benchmade folder. Can't go wrong with Benchmade and a folder is a bit more practical fpr EDC.
Just my opinion of course.
Tim
 
Logastellus...

Based on the questions in your original post, I think either of those knives would work for what you think he'll do with them. AUS8 is not a bad steel. It's a fairly tough and corrosion-resistant steel, so it's suitable for camping/hiking/woods type uses. It doesn't hold it's edge as long as something like S30V, but it's more impact-resistant, and it's easier to resharpen, so it's useful for larger knives that sometimes get used for chopping, or other heavy work.

OTOH, if you think that your man will want to carry his gift more often, you might consider a quality folder, as other have mentioned. Benchmade and Spyderco both have a variety of folders that can be carried almost anywhere and are still tough enough to serve at a campsite. My wife and I are campers/hikers in the Appalachian mountain areas of the east and we usually don't take anything but folders with us, even when we're gone for a week at a time.

HTH
 
Dont look down on AUS 8. Its not a horrible steel at all.

In a sense I guess you could say a folder IS weaker than a fixed blade. Then again if you get something too cheap, the tang can snap on you; having a fixed blade doesnt mean its invincible. Plus a folder would be easier to carry and more practical.

Like tnpwebb I feel you cant go wrong with a benchmade. Benchmade Griptilian would be my pick. I have an older BM 551 (the 440c version) and I simple love it. The lock is a nice novelty as well and its really strong. You can find the grip online for around 60-70 new.

A multi tool wouldnt be a bad idea either. One of the larger Leathermen with the saw would be nice for cutting branches etc.
 
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