Just a question, Aus-8

[Rsmith_77]

Just a quick question, but i had read something several years back
now of course i cannot remember where i read it and no idea how to find it

SO anyways, i thought i would come on in and ask, figure someone would know for sure.
but my question is this. Is Aus-8 equivalent to 440C? or am i just messing up what i read

like i said its been a few years, but I DO seem to recall reading this
can anyone confirm or deny this?

thanks in advance

 

[Fancier]

Equivalent? By what standard? The AUS steels have a bit of vanadium that the 440 series lacks. They are both considered "value" steels by most users on this forum. Serviceable and relatively affordable but not particularly outstanding steels in other words.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

AUS10 I believe is supposed to be about equivalent with 440C. And AUS8 is supposed to be a little step down from AUS10. At least that is the comparison that used to be made probably close to 10 years ago.

 

[Rsmith_77]

by equivalent ..what i recall was that aus8 was pretty similiar to 440c, just a slightly different recipe..basically US version 440c, Taiwanese version aus8

 

[stalag2]

Aus 8 is not Taiwanese but japanese and it is similar to 440 B with less chromium and a bit of vanadium added.

 

[Firestrike]

It seems to me that AUS-8 is slightly easier to sharpen than 440c and doesn't quite hold an edge as long, but it is still a fairly good folding knife steel none-the-less. I like my CRKT M-21 and all my Outdoor Edge knives made from AUS-8 they get scary sharp and my Swing Blaze can go all the way through skinning and gutting an Elk without need for a touch-up.

 

[knarfeng]

by equivalent ..what i recall was that aus8 was pretty similiar to 440c, just a slightly different recipe..basically US version 440c, Taiwanese version aus8

AUS10 I believe is supposed to be about equivalent with 440C. And AUS8 is supposed to be a little step down from AUS10. At least that is the comparison that used to be made probably close to 10 years ago.

FlaMtnBkr is closest.

AUS10 holds an edge a bit better than 440C. In daily use you might not notice the difference.

AUS8 holds an edge distinctly less well than 440C. In daily use I would expect you would notice the difference. I do.

 

[flarp]

Here's a graph and table of the composition of the 440-series and AUS-8 & 10: http://zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=AUS-8,440B,AUS-10,440C,440A (not my site, but I believe the guy that made that app is a forum member here)

I don't have experience with 440B (I've never even seen a knife that used 440B), but I do have limited experience with 440C. Compared to AUS-8, 440C does hold an edge longer, but I also have more difficulty getting it quite as sharp. I haven't looked at either under a microscope, but my guess would be AUS-8 has a finer and more consistent grain structure, based on how they feel running over a benchstone.

 

[Rsmith_77]

thanks everyone!

 

[Ken44]

AUS10 I believe is supposed to be about equivalent with 440C. And AUS8 is supposed to be a little step down from AUS10. At least that is the comparison that used to be made probably close to 10 years ago.

Thats what I've always heard.

FlaMtnBkr is closest.

AUS10 holds an edge a bit better than 440C. In daily use you might not notice the difference.

AUS8 holds an edge distinctly less well than 440C. In daily use I would expect you would notice the difference. I do.

I would say this. When it comes to steel, I trust Franks opinion over any other here.