SK-5 vs. AUS8A for toughness

upnorth

upnorth

Joined
Nov 25, 2006
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I have a basic understanding of knife steel, roughly as much as it pertains to my use choices. I believe that SK-5 is equivalent to 1080 carbon steel, or something very similar. My understanding is that this is a pretty tough steel with a reasonable heat treat. So my question is...... were do my old AUS8A Recon Tantos's and SRK's stand in toughness compared to the new SK-5 equivalents ? I love to beat knives through wood for a fire now and then. So toughness has always been a primary factor for me. For shear beating the hell through wood repetitively, do these knife steels differ in ability to withstand this....what some consider abuse ? If I bust one I'm not crying to C.S. about it. I busted the thing, that's on me. Besides, they don't cost much and I have a bunch of them anyway. I was just wondering if SK-5 is a tougher steel than the AUS8A for rough wood processing applications ?
 
As a very general statement, carbon steels like sk5 tend to be tougher than stainless steels like aus-8a. sk5 is reported to be a Japanese equivalent to 1080 steel, as you mentioned.

This article hypes it up a little bit too much but it is decent stuff.
http://www.knifeup.com/sk-5-high-carbon-steel-blades/

Another general statement, corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention usually gets balanced out. For one to increase another must decrease. This is not always the case, especially as heat treats can greatly affect these for a given steel and then there are grades of steel but as a very topical assessment of steels, this is a trend that can be observed. Steels that are both tough and have good edge retention usually rust pretty easily (tool steels). Very high toughness knives usually tend to have lower edge retention and corrosion resistance. Very high corrosion resistance tend to have reduced toughness and edge retention. There are exceptions to all of those statements, especially as you move into the higher grades of steel with more alloying (super steels).
 
Thank you gentlemen. This is all pretty much what I expected, and now confirmed. I will be replacing multiple Moras in bags with SK-5 Recon Tanto's and SRK's.
:thumbsup:
 
to cut wood steels such as C45 (max C60 or C70) with the heat treatment corrected no fear anyone

:) the cold-steel AUS-8A at an exceptional performance-priced ratio,:)

1: it is a stainless steel

2: has a very high cutting capacity

3: it sharpens very easily

4: it is flexible, does not chip very easily
 
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Haven't you heard of an axe? You use the right tool for the job!!!

I'm just kidding I hate "that guy" I appreciate a knife that can baton. I just hate that debate. Sorry this didn't help your question. I couldn't help myself! Merry Christmas to you and your family kind sir!
 
I have an SK5 builders knife and the instruction say you can hit the spine of the knife with a hammer to drive it though a piece of wood.
 
d762nato said:
I see where your coming from DocJD. I'd like to see a head to head test against all the different steels Cold Steel uses or has used in the recon tanto.
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I'd like to see a test like that, too ! It would remove many of the variables often involved when steel types are tested using different style knives from various makers . Cold Steel is usually very good on their treatment . They use SK5 on some big Bowie's , so it's probably plenty good for the smaller knives .
 
I would guess toughness of Sk5 to be a touch better but 3V will hold an edge way better and has some corrosion resistance while still being very high in the toughness category for a knife. Purely anecdotal based on information I've read about 3V vs the carbon steels like 1075, 1080/84, and 1095.
 
Yes, but the SK5 Recon Tantos have a hollow grind while many of the previous models have saber grinds. The hollow grind is much better for edge holding but not as great for pounding as the saber grinds. I'm wondering how the Carbon V blades fit in to this conversation? Is it closer to the SK5 or the stainless blades? Or to the 3V?

Is the Carbon V overrated? Some swear by it. I've got both the SK5 version and the Carbon V.

For edge retention, I've heard great things about the VG-1 models. For toughness, AUS8A.

Edge retention is one thing. Toughness another. I also like the edge that goes all the way down to the handle. Very nice, CS!!

3100_big.jpg
 
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Stargater said:
Yes, but the SK5 Recon Tantos have a hollow grind while many of the previous models have saber grinds. The hollow grind is much better for edge holding but not as great for pounding as the saber grinds. I'm wondering how the Carbon V blades fit in to this conversation? Is it closer to the SK5 or the stainless blades? Or to the 3V?
Click to expand...

Carbon V isn't really a standard steel and is a bit of a Cold Steel thing. From what I was able to find a while back it was used so they could jump around on the steel types to get better prices without changing the specs. I think it was all aimed around a 1075 or 1080 type level so they would use 1075, SK5, 1070, 1080 etc. interchangeably based on price. I haven't seem a firm answer but others could have. I basically just put it in the "decent but not great generic carbon steel" category in my internal rating system.

I wouldn't agree that a hollow grind holds an edge better. They are thinner behind the edge making them more slicey and probably still slice further down the road into dullness but I don't think they hold an edge better overall. They certainly don't accept the pounding as well as a saber grind, as you stated.
 
d762nato said:
Why not get a Recon Tanto in 3v?
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I have considered it actually. So you never know. Although up here we are talking more like $200.00 a pop. I just wanted some extra beaters for some bags. The SK-5's were getting to a price point as to be a very viable option as bag Mora replacements. And at this point in time more knives are just eye candy/toys. Once in a while I am curious about properties/performance in some tools. This is really not a big deal, just sheer curiosity. Is SK-5 tougher than AUS8 overall?, by removing as many variables as possible. Just a point of curiosity. Actually, I am also curious if some steels retain higher toughness in below zero weather, with most variables removed. Would say SK-5 or 1075 still retain its ''toughness'' advantage as opposed to AUS8 in cold weather.....It is none of my biz what anyone does with their property, it's theirs to enjoy. I have never broken a cutting/chopping tool because I try to practice some restraint and common sense, or yes, switch tools. I just like to know were some rough use lines are drawn through material or environmental factors, more or less. These are just pieces of steel that I apply to my outdoor romps, not major life decisions, lol. Have a good one all.
 
Talking about cold affects steel, This is just for a laugh :D

I was just reading a sci-book US Space Marines
Ice Station Zebra, Europa

Lucky’s right hand found the hilt of his K-bar, sheathed on his hip, popped the locking strap, dragged the knife free. The PRC soldier—Lucky could see the man’s face just above his through the dark visor, could see the terror-widened eyes—reached down and pounded at Lucky’s helmet with clenched, gloved fists, trying to smash the visor.
Lucky slammed the point of the knife up against his opponent’s throat as hard as he could. The black blade glanced off the helmet locking ring and snapped off clean at the hilt, the metal made brittle by the extreme cold.
He shifted his aim and drove upward with the hilt still clenched in his hand, smashing the guard against the enemy soldier’s visor. And again. And again…
Click to expand...
 
I believe a laminated steel of some type would fair better in a very cold environment.
 
bikerector said:
Carbon V isn't really a standard steel and is a bit of a Cold Steel thing. From what I was able to find a while back it was used so they could jump around on the steel types to get better prices without changing the specs. I think it was all aimed around a 1075 or 1080 type level so they would use 1075, SK5, 1070, 1080 etc. interchangeably based on price.
Click to expand...

This is false. Carbon V is Coldsteel's trademark for 1095CV, 0170-6 which was used by many knife manufacturers and is still used by KaBar (Becker Knives for example).

If CarbonV was Cold Steel's name for "whatever" steel, then 3V, SK5, AUS-8 would all be CarbonV.

I'm a huge fan of CarbonV (1095CV, 0170-6) but it is a little long in the tooth. I can't speak to how it compares to SK5 but I think SK5 might be virtually equivalent.

The one on the bottom is a Veteran (USMC).

38819544411_b9d210e2fe_h.jpg
 
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