Is AUS118 as good as ATS-34?

J

Jeff/1911

Joined
Mar 22, 2001
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In CRKT's catalog they make this claim. They say:

"We now feature AUS-118 as our premium alloy, which is equal in characteristics to ATS 34 buy offers the added benefit of increased corrosion resistance due to higher chromium content".

Is this true? I have heard great things about ATS 34, and the only usual complaint being a tendency to rust easily. So, I'm interested.

Jeff/1911.
 
No, wasn't planning to. Actually I already own an M-16-04 in AUS-8 which I really like. I was just wondering about CRKT's claims of the performance of this AUS-118 steel. How do you like yours?

Jeff/1911.
 
From a quick scan of CRKT's "Steel Facts" or whatever they call it, and my porous memories of ATS34's components, they're pretty similar, except in terms of the amounts of chromium and molybdenum they have. AUS118 has 30+/-% of the molydenum that ATS34 has. It has 3-4% more chromium.

Given that the harder carbides form first, that means that a lot more of the carbon in ATS34 is going to be used up making moly carbides first, leaving less carbon to interact with the chromium, which is softer. So, in fact, it seems to me that the difference between the amounts of molybdenum means that the amount of free chromium, which determines anti-corrosion quality, may not be much different.

I think, given the choice, I'd go with ATS34. But, AUS118 is certainly a cut above AUS6 and 8, can't remember AUS10's components.

If I have this backasswards, Joe, or anybody, please set the record straight.
 
I already have the large aluminum tanto so I didn't buy the carbon fiber version. I heard the CRKT M16 large carbon fiber tanto is only a limited run. I don't think it sells well because it is more expensive than most of the CRKT line.
 
Bugs3X,

Thanks for your detailed description. That makes perfect sense to me, I think.

Rogue Spear, I just figured that maybe you had one to sell.

Jeff/1911.
 
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