Steel

[STR]

AUS8 is a fine steel, no doubt, but I don't think it can compare to 154cm

On the surface this is so true and I'm not saying I don't have blades of that steel or anything. It looks like the ATS34 and 154CM should really outperform the AUS8A blades when you look at the carbon content and whats there on paper but that hasn't been my experience. I have never been able to really get what I'd call a good edge on any of my 154CM or ATS34 blades let alone a great one. Even from the factory they are lagging behind in bite to the AUS8A and VG10 blades I have bought. My SOG Twitch XL is AUS8A and its got a great edge. Same for my Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter and Vaquero. These knives are great and really slice and cut well and sharpen backup in a snap. When I compare them to my Emersons and BenchMades in 154CM and ATS34 and the nightmares they sometimes give me to get them sharp again I just can't help but wonder you know?

While AUS8 edges may not last as long as ATS34 or 154CM edges and have been known to roll a bit on certain knives I believe AUS8 is ten times easier to get the bite back when you touch up the bevel and it seems to me to be a tougher steel even if it is thought of as a second rate one, so when I say it outperforms ATS34 that is what I'm really thinking of.

These statements are my opinion and just based on my own observations and experiences. I don't particularly care for ATS34 or 154CM and have been guilty of saying before that both these steels seem to me to just take a crappy edge and keep it. I'd personally rather have a good sharp biting edge even if it does dulls a bit faster. This slight drawback is kind of cancelled out in my mind by the fact that the edge comes right back with a few strops compared to a crappy one that never gets all that great to begin with.

It has been said that there is not enough vanidium in the AUS 8 and 10 steels to really form vanidium carbides but I don't know about that. I've noticed that the steels I really like best and feel I can get the best biting edges on all have vanadium in them. (AUS8, 10, VG10, S30V, BG42, Case high carbon CV steel, to name a few.)

STR

 

[Habeas Corpus]

Habeous, my experience with AUS6A from spyderco and CRKT has been good (4 knivees). <snip> Habeus was the AUS6A you have come in contact from a reputable manufacturer?

Yes. Spyderco and CRKT, so it's been at least *one* reputable manufacturer ... I liked Spyderco's AUS6 better than CRKT's, by the way.

What people think about AUS6 really seems to depend on their kind of usage. As long as you use your knives mainly for cutting soft stuff like fruit and so on, AUS6 is OK. The problems begin when you use your knife a lot for stuff that's harder to cut.

Hans