Chronovore
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Messages
- 11,361
I think Kershaw does an okay job with 8CR. Theirs gets shaving sharp very easily. Just don't expect it to be a cardboard destroyer.
I actually like Aus 8. I wouldn't pay good money for it, but in the $40 and under price range I enjoy it. In my opinion, it is definitely a step up from 8CR. I'm weird I guess because I actually prefer it to D2.
It's all about personal experiences and personal opinions. Unfortunately, no two brands in the budget realm makes all things equal. I'm sure Benchmade's D2 is far superior to some no name Chinese D2 steel, for instance.
You are largely correct here. It's relatively easy to get a very sharp edge on 8Cr13Mov. It just doesn't last very long. It wears down to a working edge quickly. The working edge will hang on more respectably but generally not as long as the other steels we've discussed here.
I've often wondered whether AUS-8 tends to get a better heat treatment, if its small difference with 8Cr13Mov makes it easier to treat, or if there is a difference in quality control on the composition of these two steels. In my experiences, 8Cr13Mov seems to have a relatively small range in quality from best to worst, with the best still being subpar relative to those better budget steels. Meanwhile, the worst AUS-8 I've had might be closer to the middle of 8Cr's range while the best AUS-8 is much better. I still have a Rat 2 and a Harnds Talisman in AUS-8 that are decent enough to hang around.
I have no issues with liking AUS-8 better than Chinese D2. D2 has a large range of performance. While the worst D2 I've had is still better than the best 8Cr13Mov I've had, the best AUS-8 is competitive. While it went the other way in Pete's test on rope, check out this cut test between the AUS-8 and D2 versions of the Rat at 15dps versus cardboard: