In this article, we'll tell you all you need to know about AUS-8 steel blades found on knives.
What is AUS-8 Steel?
AUS 8 steel is a budget friendly Japanese made stainless steel, which belongs to the AUS series of steels. These steels include AUS 4, AUS 6, AUS 8, and AUS 10.
5 Best EDC Tactical Pens For Self Defense
AUS-8 high chromium stainless steel is Japanese made steel that's very similar to 440 steel but with vanadium added to provide more hardness. OKC knives is an popular brand of knives that utilize AUS-8 steel.
5 Best Ontario Knife Company (OKC) EDC Pocket Knives
The Japanese-made AUS 8 steel is often considered an upper-range knife steel that's comparable to 440C, CM-154, and D2 steels.
Given a proper manufacturing process the hardness level of good quality AUS-8 steel is usually around 58 to 59 HRC.
7 Best Benchmade EDC Pocket Knives to Carry in 2022
The high chromium, Japanese-made AUS 8 stainless steel is an extremely hard corrosion and rust resistant steel.
The above designation indicates steel that contains 0.75% Carbon and 14.5% Chromium. The AUS-8 steel also contains 0.30% Molybdenum and Vanadium 0.26%.
7 Best EDC Police & Security Flashlights
Molybdenum steel knives are easy to sharpen and have excellent corrosion-resistance. AUS-8 also contains Vanadium, which further improves the strength, toughness, and edge retention of the steel.
AUS-8 Steel Composition
The full composition of AUS-8 steel is Carbon: 0.70-0.75%, Chromium: 13.00-14.50%, Manganese: 0.50%, Nickel: 0.49%, Phosphorus: 0.04%, Silicon: 1.00%, Sulphur: 0.03%, and Vanadium: 0.10-0.26.
AUS-8 Steel Hardness Levels
The hardness level of good quality AUS-8 steel is usually around 58 to 59 HRC on the Rockwell scale. AUS-8 steel also contains Vanadium, which further improves the strength, toughness, and edge retention of the steel.
Benchmade knife company has proven consistently that their knives manufactured using a special heat-treated AUS 8 steel can achieve 59-60HRC.
5 Best Tactical Wallets & Money Clips with Tactical Knives for EDC
This hardness level in AUS-8 steel will give the steel good sharpness and edge retention, and good wear and abrasion resistance.
Best Metals Wallets for EDC
AUS-8 Steel Toughness
The toughness of a steel is defines as the ability to absorb impact without chipping or breaking. Hardness levels are going to be directly related to the toughness of a steel. Since the harness is higher at (58-59 HRC) the toughness is lower.
AUS-8 steel also contains Vanadium, which further improves the strength, toughness, and edge retention of the steel.
5 Best Spyderco Pocket Knives to Carry for EDC
Vanadium is a new additive to stainless steels that increases any steel's core strength allowing it to withstand more abuse and come out unscratched.
This is why AUS-8 can absorb descent amount of abuse due to it's higher carbon content and vanadium content.
AUS-8 Steel Corrosion and Wear Resistance
AUS-8 Steel Corrosion and Wear Resistance
AUS-8 stainless steel contains a fairly higher Chromium content compared to other metals which gives it great rust and corrosion resistance characteristics.
It also includes other elements such as Nickel that improve its corrosion resistance. This makes AUS-8 a great corrosion resistance stainless steel choice for any knife.
AUS-8 Steel Ease of Sharpening
AUS-8 steel is very easy to sharpen to a razor edge but it will dull relatively quickly compared to due to it's relatively low carbon content as compared to other metals such as 8Cr14MoV which has a 0.8% carbon content.
But, avoid overly aggressive sharpening which can overtime damage.
Popular AUS-8 Steel Brand Knives
A well known brands of AUS-8 steel knives are the Ontario Knife Company, SOG Knives, and the CRKT knives. CRKT mostly manufactures AUS-8 steel knives. They're all good quality and affordable.
AUS-8 Steel Sharpening and Honing
The AUS-8 steel is fairly easy to sharpen, but it will need to be sharpened and honed more often than other steel's that contain higher carbon content due to it's tendency of the edge to curl.
AUS-8 like any metal requires proper care and maintenance to protect them from rusting, especially in high humidity areas.
Due to it's semi-brittle nature, it will be to be honed. Learn more about honing.
Are AUS-8 Steel Blade Knives Good?
AUS-8 steel knife is a good quality and affordable knife. It offers good hardness, fair toughness, good wear and corrosion resistance, and good edge retention for fairly affordable prices.
Final Thoughts
AUS-8 stainless steel is a great choice steel for pocket knives. What makes it a good steel is good corrosion and wear resistance, great hardness, good edge retention, and fair toughness.
5 Best Pocket Friendly Flashlights for EDC
Best of all, AUS-8 steel blades are typically considered to be good-quality knives for affordable prices. So, if you looking for a great affordable knife, those made with AUS-8 steel are a great choice.