AUS-8 steel
AUS-8 is a conventional stainless steel from Aichi Steel. It rates 3/10 for edge retention, 6/10 for toughness and 7/10 for corrosion resistance, and is usually hardened to 57–59 HRC.
At a glance
- Type
- Stainless steels
- Hardness
- 57–59 HRC
- Maker
- Aichi Steel (Japan)
- Process
- ingot
- Price tier
- Budget
- Used by
- Cold Steel, Ontario RAT, CRKT, SOG, Al Mar, Kizlyar Supreme
- Also called
- AUS8, 8A, AUS-8A
Composition
| Element | Weight % |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.75 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 14 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.2 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.2 |
| Nickel (Ni) | 0.49 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.5 |
| Silicon (Si) | 1 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.04 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.03 |
Source: manufacturer datasheet. Nominal values; where a range is published, the midpoint is shown. Phosphorus and sulfur, where listed, are maximums.
What makes AUS-8 behave the way it does
AUS-8 contains 0.75% carbon, enough to reach typical knife hardness; 14% chromium for corrosion resistance.
A small vanadium addition (0.2%) mainly refines grain size.
Equivalent and similar steels
- AUS-8 class (similar class; compositions differ): AUS-8, 8Cr13MoV, 8Cr14MoV, CTS-BD1
Knives in 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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How to sharpen AUS-8
AUS-8 is easy to sharpen (8/10). Aluminium-oxide and water stones work well, and it takes a fine edge quickly; a ceramic rod or strop keeps it going between sharpenings.
Compare AUS-8 with
FAQ
Is AUS-8 a good knife steel?
AUS-8 is strongest in ease of sharpening (8/10) and weakest in edge retention (3/10). Its average across the four ratings is 6.0/10, and it sits in the budget price tier.
Does AUS-8 rust?
Not in normal use. AUS-8 rates 7/10 for corrosion resistance; wipe it dry after contact with salt or acidic food.
Is AUS-8 hard to sharpen?
AUS-8 is easy to sharpen (8/10). Aluminium-oxide and water stones work well, and it takes a fine edge quickly; a ceramic rod or strop keeps it going between sharpenings.
What hardness is AUS-8?
Knives in AUS-8 are usually hardened to 57–59 HRC. Makers can run it outside that range; harder means better edge retention but lower toughness.