8Cr13MoV vs AUS-8
AUS-8 is tougher and resists corrosion better, and the two tie on edge retention and ease of sharpening. The biggest gap is toughness (6/10 vs 5/10). The differences are small, so the knife itself matters more than the steel.
Who wins each property
Side by side
| 8Cr13MoV | AUS-8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Stainless steels | Stainless steels |
| Hardness | 56–59 HRC | 57–59 HRC |
| Edge retention | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Toughness | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Corrosion resistance | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of sharpening | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Price tier | Budget | Budget |
| Maker | Generic (GB/T, Ahonest Changjiang etc.) | Aichi Steel |
Composition
| Element | 8Cr13MoV | AUS-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.8 | 0.75 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 13.5 | 14 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.15 | 0.2 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 0.2 | 0.49 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.5 | 1 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
Property by property
Edge retention
Both rate 3/10 for edge retention. Vanadium: 0.1% vs 0.2%; more vanadium carbide generally means more wear resistance.
Toughness
AUS-8 is tougher: 6/10 against 5/10 for 8Cr13MoV, a 1-point gap.
Corrosion resistance
AUS-8 resists corrosion better: 7/10 against 6/10 for 8Cr13MoV, a 1-point gap. Chromium: 13.5% vs 14%, though what matters is the chromium left in solution, not the total.
Ease of sharpening
Both rate 8/10 for ease of sharpening.
Knives in each steel
8Cr13MoV
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spyderco Tenacious | Spyderco | 3.39" | 4.2 oz | Liner lock | $91 | Blade HQ |
AUS-8
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Knife Company RAT 1 AUS-8 | Ontario Knife Company | 3.5" | 5 oz | Liner lock | $62.95 | Blade HQ |
| SOG SEAL Pup Elite | SOG | 4.85" | 5.4 oz | — | $129.95 | Blade HQ |
| CRKT M16-14SF Tanto | CRKT | 3.99" | 5.7 oz | Liner lock | $120 | Blade HQ |
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FAQ
Which is better, 8Cr13MoV or AUS-8?
AUS-8 is tougher and resists corrosion better, and the two tie on edge retention and ease of sharpening. The biggest gap is toughness (6/10 vs 5/10). The differences are small, so the knife itself matters more than the steel.
Which is harder, 8Cr13MoV or AUS-8?
8Cr13MoV is typically run at 56–59 HRC and AUS-8 at 57–59 HRC.
Is 8Cr13MoV or AUS-8 more rust resistant?
AUS-8 (7/10). Both are conventional stainless steels.