What would you rather have AUS 8 or 440C?

Between the two, all else equal, I'd go with 440C.

But my real world answer, if choosing between a 440C knife and an AUS 8 knife, I'd go with the maker with the best heat treat. Either steel with a first class heat treatment will outperform the other with a mediocre heat treat.
 
That is the point!

Even though 440C is taken for the better name but that doesn´t mean it has to be heat treated properly.

I would better ask for the maker of the knives.

I have not seen many 440C blades but two, wich were very different. Meaning one took a fine edge and the other was bad as hell.
 
Blop said:
That is the point!

Even though 440C is taken for the better name but that doesn´t mean it has to be heat treated properly.

I would better ask for the maker of the knives.

I have not seen many 440C blades but two, wich were very different. Meaning one took a fine edge and the other was bad as hell.
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Even though I'm not a fan of 440C, I have an Entrek Cobra in 440C, and man, does it take an edge! Has to be a good heat treat. The best edge retention in 440C that I have ever come across.
 
Cold Steel once claimed they did a double cryogenic treatment during the tempering phase of their AUS-8 Tanto knives. Did this turn the AUS-8 into a super performer? Do they still do it? (they don't advertise it anymore.)
 
I'll second those Entreks. Great knives.
ALso, don't overlook Mickey Yurco knives. Great 440C blades.
 
I really like both steels, I'v found AUS8 takes an amazimg edge with very little effort, but 440c holds it for longer even with a finer angle. I'd say, if your good at sharpening, i'd go with the 440c.
 
Brad Greulich said:
I really like both steels, I'v found AUS8 takes an amazimg edge with very little effort, but 440c holds it for longer even with a finer angle. I'd say, if your good at sharpening, i'd go with the 440c.
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I would agree with you, IF the 440C has a very good heat treat. Even so, I can still get AUS-8 sharper than 440C, but, it will not stay as sharp after some use as 440C.
 
You see you learn something everyday ! I would have said pick 440C if you want greater edge holding and Aus 8 if you want greater toughness but Mr Stamp knows far more than I so that shoots me down in flames !!!
 
diamdave said:
I'll second those Entreks. Great knives.
ALso, don't overlook Mickey Yurco knives. Great 440C blades.
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A "third" on the Entrek knives.

Bought a Badger recently; amazed at the quality.
Fit, materials, finish and edge.

And as to the OP, I'd go with 440C over AUS 8; but I do think AUS 8 is better than its general rep would suggest.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
AUS-8A for a knife with a very fine edge which would want to take and hold a high polish. 440C for a knife with a thicker edge and/or a more coarse finish. One is more for slicing and the other for push cutting. This assumes of course proper heat treatment for both.

-Cliff
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Cliff,
Could you explain what and why.

thanks
 
AUS-8A can be slightly harder and has a lower carbide volume so the edge can take and hold a high polish at a lower angle. 440C has a much higher carbide volume and a slightly lower hardness and thus requires a thicker edge and is best suited for coarse finishes.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
AUS-8A can be slightly harder and has a lower carbide volume so the edge can take and hold a high polish at a lower angle. 440C has a much higher carbide volume and a slightly lower hardness and thus requires a thicker edge and is best suited for coarse finishes.

-Cliff
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thanks :thumbup:
 
AUS-8 is a Japanese steel. So, the chances are that the knife is made in Japan. That is good thing since the Japanese make high quality knives. 440C is almost a generic term. You can buy 440C knives made in China with lower quality.

Rather than worry about the two steels which are very similar, worry about the quality of the knife.
 
I had an old FRN Spyderco Goddard in AUS8 (now lost, sigh), and it was really a scalpel, as others here have said. One of my favorite knives. It stropped to a really fine polished edge. I have a couple of knives in 440C and they are harder to sharpen but hold their edges about as well as VG-10. The VG-10 seems to have a toothier edge so I like it a tad better for EDC, but 440C is (with decent HT) right up there with the other high-end steels.
 
I thin Cliff is thinking of AUS-10 Which is slightly ahead of 440-c. But is very comparable. Aus-8 is the equivalent of 440-B. I have done a lot of testing on Aus-8. In fact I'm carrying one right now. It isn't in anyway the equal of 440-c. Unlike a previous poster, I have never seen a Chi-com knife make of 440-c. What was the knife. I would like to know. It has been said here, and other places time and time again. IF THE BLADE IS MARKED 440 stainless IT IS NOT 440-C!!! Period. The chi's use 440-a almost exclusively. It is an inferior steel. cheap to buy. Cheap to work, easy on tooling in a manufacturing setting and Easy to heat treat. The Plus side is that the unwary will see 440 and think it is quality steel. Aus-8 is right behind it. Again. think 440-B. The C in 44o-c stands for cutlery grade. Some think it stands for carbon. both fit. It has enough carbon to properly harden . The others do not. I have never seen a 440-a-b Or aus 6-8 blade rc above 55. Most lower. They sometimes use the trick of cyanide to case harden the stainless to make it seem harder. But it is only a shallow surface treatment. Ever wonder why some Gerber's will hold an edge when new, then won't hold it at all in a few months when they get a few sharpenings under they're belt. Same problem with 420SS. The old Gerber's from Portland were made of m-2, and 440-c. They were famous for their performance. Mike
 
I own a dozen AUS-8 knives nad all of them have been well owrth the money and have served me well. Go with AUS-8.
 
No I am not thinking of AUS-8, read the reference provided. Benchmade is also running its AUS-8A blades at 60 HRC.

-Cliff
 
Michael Lovett said:
Unlike a previous poster, I have never seen a Chi-com knife make of 440-c. What was the knife. I would like to know.
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There are hundreds of them, of course, but I'm not willing to look them up for you. Perhaps you can review the Byrd knives from Spyderco. They are 440C made in China. That's only one example but it may get the job done. If it doesn't then feel free not to believe me. It doesn't matter a whit to me.
 
EdgeOn said:
There are hundreds of them, of course, but I'm not willing to look them up for you. Perhaps you can review the Byrd knives from Spyderco. They are 440C made in China. That's only one example but it may get the job done. If it doesn't then feel free not to believe me. It doesn't matter a whit to me.
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While I agree that I have seen 440C from other countries, the Byrd line is not 440C. The Byrd steel is 8Cr13MoV. This is close to AUS8, not 440C.

I believe that at least some of the Smith and Wesson knives are made in China and come in 440C.
 
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