Kershaw Echo

[bodydamage]

Ive got a Black scaled Kershaw Echo that was given to be by a hunting buddy that I respect greatly.. It was one of those,
"What kind of knife you carrying??"
"Here, check it out.. Actually take it, its yours.."

I love the knife.. It is exactly what I go for in a fixed blade..

1)simple
2)full tang
3)great skinner
4) 4ish inch blade

It came w/ a horrible leather sheath.. IVe have an order on w/ Eric at On Scene Tactical for a Kydex w/ a Firesteel holder so that should fix that issue.

The blade is AUS-8.. Ive read about 1000 steel discussions and after a while all i hear is blah blah blah.. I dont kill people and cut down ponderosas with the thing.. How will AUS-8 hold up to general beating around duties?? Cleaning fish, skinning (great thus far), fire making, cooking, etc.. I want to use it, and use it hard, but I dont want to destroy it..

 

[svrider3]

It'll hold up just fine with what you mentioned. It won't hold an edge
like say S30V, but it's still a good steal. Use it hard and don't fret
about it. Just don't abuse it....(Prybar)

 

[kershawguy]

I think that Kershaw uses AUS8 on Hunting knives because it is a good all around steel That holds a pretty good edge, yet it is soft enough to touch up in the field. At least this is what I have heard, I don't use too many knives. ( don't want to scratch them, you know)

Dave

 

[bodydamage]

I dont find much of a need for a prybar.. The hardest thing I put a field blade through is battoning every once in a great while.. But usually I can split smaller stuff with the grain w/ out beating on it..

 

[riffraff]

I've never had a problem with AUS-8. One of my favorite (user) knives is an old Outdoor Edge Field-Lite FL-10. An old thumb-studded lock-back with Zytel (nylon-glass) scales and AUS-8 from Seki, it opens as fast as an AO and the blade has held up fine over the years.

OTOH, a cow-orker had a SOG Trident of AUS-8 and he sliced into a case of beer in a fit of silliness and it chipped. Perhaps the heat-treat wasn't right?