Aus8 and 8cr13mov: Good, Bad, or Exceptional?

Balls Deep said:
I guess something I'm curious to know is are there any high end steels that will take an edge as easily as aus8 or 8cr13mov? As mentioned I spent a ton of time on some hard vg10 and I know my brother has spent quite a long time sharpening ZT s30v. I don't mind sharpening more often if it only takes a few minutes.

In fairness I guess I should clarify I was sharpening out a chip on the vg10 which took quite some time.
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I do own the CS Recon folder (I think 09 model) that of course is Aus8 - it is fine but with that comes with the rolling or chipping if you thin out the geometry of the edge. That is what I have found on my end at least.

I have used the alphabet steels on two occasions. No need to mention the knives or companies because it doesn't matter.

The lowest grade of steel I use in any of my edc pieces would be Sandvik. And I pause to even call Sandvik 14C28N "the lowest" ...that is usually the level of steels you read from bottom to top.

IMO a properly done Sandvik with a proper edge geometry that wasn't labeled or known to the user - the difference would not be known between that or a say 35VN or S35V. Like what was said earlier - this era IMO will be looked back on as the beginning of the 'Golden Era' of steel.

Another great steel that I don't hear mentioned much is Niolox. The Niolox on the HEST TripleBlack T3 is just incredible and has moved up my list to my favorite...at least with this particular knife - no chipping - no rolling of any kind.
OK I am done.
 
A. G. Russell said:
It is pretty simple, really, at that price level VG-10 will come near increasing the price 100% and S30V closer to 400%.

Any businessman can do the math in his head.

I can see the point of making a few knives of a plus steel when possible.
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Ha! Sadly but for no reason whatsoever - VG10 is one steel I have never owned. I would like to though.
 
shecky said:
I kind of look at it that way, too. But I'd portray it as kind of a false economy. One way or another, the effort has to be put in. There's still no free lunch, and "higher end" steels are for knife nuts/snobs who are interested in HRc numbers more as an academic exercise of for bragging rights.

In any event, AUS8 and 8cr13mov are both fine and capable steels that allow the cutting performance to be increasingly determined by other factors, such as geometry.
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Shecky. I know and also understand what you mean with the term ' steel snob '. There is no way I feel like I'm in that label. I have owned and still have the three seperate pieces that employ the two steels the OP mentioned.

I believe as most do in here or if they don't now....they will down the line with experience. That IMO if you are going to use EVERYDAY either of the two steels mentioned, it better be the "perfect setup" for you. Meaning be the perfect handle length /blade length/OAL- blade shape along with 'spot on' edge geometry. And of course, at the very least, know how to strop your knife properly.

From my experience though - I wished I had never wasted my money on the two knives with the alphabet labeling. But I learned. But if you are just doing the typical type of cutting -box here box there/ envelope or newspaper&magazine clipping....then either of the two should be fine but I'd choose Aus8 over 8CR.

I could care less about Mr.Rockwell. I just got my first Emerson and according to many they won't use it because it's too soft. That silly Ernie Emerson. What does he know that they don't? ;-)
 
Stays Sharp said:
They are okay, Im just spoiled with these crazy steels that we now encounter regularly...

What I find ridiculous is the bashing of these steels. One of note on another 8cr opinion thread was a member saying that his edge chipped away while running his fingernails across it and proceeded to say that it is absolute crap. You find it insufficient? Fine. Prefer not made in China? Fine. But I had to tell the guy: BS, you are saying that your fingernails that are made of keratin is stronger than STEEL.
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If someone truly said that and they told that like it actually happened...they should be banned. Because they are wasting peoples time with lies but saying it as fact and someone that doesn't know any better will believe it.
 
One of the things that I'm finding pretty cool about this thread are the types of jobs that require higher end steels. That could be it's own thread entirely but I'm curious to know what types of tasks really demand the alphabet steels MrPockets is talking about?
 
I'm often a "budget but decent" steel kinda guy. I've always had a soft spot for AUS8. I know just a little about steels, geometries, yadda, yadda . Here's the deal.

Most people I know think I'm a "steel snob".

So in other words, to the "unwashed masses" anyone spending even a little time, effort, and money into getting a decent steel is a steel snob.

It's all relative Einstein. ;)

Actually, this thread got to 4 pages or so before the steel snobs and the budget steel snobs started thrashing around a bit, and it got right back on track. So that's purty good.
 
I believe that with a combinaton of proper design (blade thickness, shape, edge geometry, etc.) and execution (grind, heat treat, etc.) knives of the medium budget level steels mentioned can be great, even exceptional performers. Conversely, poorly executed knives' performances cannot be saved by 'super' steels. Isn't diversity great?
 
Funny how you see opinions turn around at times if you stay around long enough. I remember back when the mention of Cold Steel, Ontario Knives and or AUS8 steel usually ended in a locked thread. It is nice to see more balanced and positive discussions these days.
:)
 
davek14 said:
. . . before the steel snobs and the budget steel snobs started thrashing around a bit
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Out of curiosity, which am I? I mean, I think most steel snobbery is pointlessly silly, but most of the knives I carry are Elmax, CTS-204p/M390, S35VN, S90V, etc. Does that make me a budget bigot or a steel snob?

Or is it just a sign that I'm completely nuts? ;)
 
MrPocketsOfSteel said:
If someone truly said that and they told that like it actually happened...they should be banned. Because they are wasting peoples time with lies but saying it as fact and someone that doesn't know any better will believe it.
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True. No name "surgical" stainless steels are still harder than fingernails.
 
evilgreg said:
Out of curiosity, which am I? I mean, I think most steel snobbery is pointlessly silly, but most of the knives I carry are Elmax, CTS-204p/M390, S35VN, S90V, etc. Does that make me a budget bigot or a steel snob?

Or is it just a sign that I'm completely nuts? ;)
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I get frustrated when a thread I am following descends into anarchy and argument but Ya know what? My post didn't help things out at all either. I was feeling fairly flippant that day and it showed upon re-reading.

I shoulda thrown another dash or two of smilies in, this *is* the internet
 
Being a "steel snob" especially on the blade forums is not a bad thing by any means. I think it's a badge you can wear proudly. The knives I pay most attention to are $70 and under. This is where you get to some working knives that are built tough but may not have the greatest steel. I don't own a lot of high end knives as a result, the nicest knives I have were gifts. This includes my ZT 0200 in 154cm and my Fallkniven f1. I can acknolwedge though there is an entire world of knives I'm missing out on as a result. One of the other things that's true of the forums is our expendable income varies intensely from member to member. Where I'm going with this is if you love high end steels AND have the money to afford high end lives spend that money and enjoy yourself a nice knife ... and then post a review of that knife on blade forums and explain what you do and don't like about it. I wish I had more blades in elmax, s30v, vg10 and so one. Unfortunately I can't afford it at this point in my life and so I have my price/interest point.
 
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