Is there anything wrong with ATS-34 steel?

M

myu

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Feb 9, 2010
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I've noticed that on SOG's website, their list of steels no longer includes ATS-34.

Now, I've seen plenty of topics on-line that discuss VG-10 vs. ATS-34. They are very close in formulation. Much of what I've read says that the difference is very difficult to detect, requiring extreme stress situations. Since I see many SOG models that previously had ATS-34 now featuring VG-10, I'm wondering why SOG has wiped the metal from its list. Has VG-10 replaced ATS-34 and it's no longer being made? Or did SOG decide that for its purposes VG-10 is better or that it believes the consumer marketing around it is much stronger?
 
Its more than likely an economic decision. VG-10 is in such wide use now it is likely just cheaper to use but still offers almost identical performance.
 
I use a lot of ATS-34 in my blades and yes it is a bit more costly but the performance is greater. I figure if you pay a good deal of money for a custom knife then why use inferior steel in making them.
 
I knives in ATS-34, BG-42 and VG-10. Here's my impression of the 3:

ATS-34, Gerber E-Z-out from the 90's, takes a good edge, holds it a bit longer then my AUS8 knives, relatively easy to touch up.

BG-42, SOG X-42 Autoclip 2003 special edition, Takes a wicked edge, holds it for a long time, if it gets dull, it take a sometime to bring the edge back. I learned to touch it up before the edge gets to un-sharp. Mean slicer, sometimes I cut leather with it and it will keep cutting and cutting [the thin edge and blade probably helps with that]. - I used to have a SOG Field knife in BG-42, edge retention was great, but do to the recurve, it was hard to sharpen with stones. Went to a friend and he likes it. :)

VG-10, Spyderco Centofante3, seems to hold an edge about as well as BG-42, though I can't seem to restore the shaving sharp edge that it came with. I can get it sharp, I just can't get it shaving sharp. . . Would like to try another companies VG-10 to see this one is just a fluke or if it's me.


ATS-34 works fine for me, my BG-42 folder is good and AUS-8 has never let me down. I wish that SOG would use ATS-34 more if their heat treat is as easy to work with as my old Gerber. :)
 
^ Good to know this, Wildman. So apparently SOG switched to VG-10 because of costs and greater availability, not because it's necessarily superior to ATS-34. I have two SOG knives made of ATS-34 and they're still razor sharp even after two years of gentle use. I did read somewhere that VG-10 is just a little tougher than ATS-34 in that it won't chip or break "as easy", but the differences are supposed to be very minute, not detectable unless you really put the blade through some severe punishment. I don't use my knives like that at all, so I'm not concerned.
 
myu, I think a lot comes down to Performance [or perceived performance], Price, availability, what the market wants and so on. There were/are lots of SOG's made in Japan. AUS and ATS steels are Japanese, so it was probably easier and less expensive for them to use those steels. Use the good steels from the countries where the knives are made. I have no clue where VG-10 is from, but if it works for them, so be it. I just know that I have not been able to get a shaving edge on my Centofante3, but my AUS 6/8, ATS-34, BG-42 and 154CM knives take wicked edges!!

Come to think of it, I may have tried sharpening my Centofante3 at the wrong angle. I sharpen free hand on stones so there is a high likely hood of this being the case. If so, I need to sit down on evening with my course stone and a good show to fix the edge.
 
I have a few very sweet blades from www.ashbycustomknives.com and these are crafted from ATS-34. Not only are the knives beautiful and stylish, but they hold a great edge in the field. On camping trips I favor a blade that I don't have to worry about getting wet...these fit the bill in spades!
 
As I'm surfing around learning about other knives, I'm periodically coming across high end knives made with ATS-34. Companies like Columbia River, Benchmade, and Klötzli (to name just a few) have used ATS-34 on highly regarded models. It's good to see this.
 
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