Which is the better blade?

[dustinlog]

I am going to purchase a fillet knife from knives of alaska but i am confused about getting the 440C or the AUS-8A blade. I am not going to use it in saltwater. I was wondering if I could get some advice on my little problem.

 

[Nimravus Nut]

440c and aus-8 have very similar performance. 440c is the U.S. formulation and aus-8 is the japanese version. 440c have more carbon and aus-8 have a little vanadium (not really enough to make a difference, but to make up the difference for the extra carbon in 440c). Heat treatment is the real deciding factor though. I don't know anyone who does small batch heat treat on aus-8, but Entrek (man i really like these knives, i have 5 of 'em) does a really good job on 440c.:thumbup:

But for the heat treatment by Knives of Alaska, I have a cleaver/mini-skinner set and I don't like the aus-8 heat treat (looses edge too quick), but the D-2 is good though. By the way... i didn't know that Knives of Alaska have 440c, can you update me on that?

 

[JD Mandrell]

Knives of Alaska uses 440C for their new Steelheader Fillet knife.

http://www.knivesofalaska.com/catalog/prod_display.aspx?from=Fillet Knives&cat=Steelheader

Their Coho Fillet knife is AUS8.

http://www.knivesofalaska.com/catalog/prod_display.aspx?from=Fillet Knives&cat=Coho