VG-10 or AUS 8 ?

B

bfreader

Joined
Dec 28, 2008
Messages
3
I've been checking out SOG Spec Elite 1 knives from different vendors. Some specify VG-10 blade steel, and others AUS 8. SOG website specifies VG-10. Is it a date of manufacture issue, what ever was available at the time of manufacture? Are they equivalent steels? Thanks for any response.
 
bfreader said:
Are they equivalent steels?
Click to expand...

Not in my opinion. Not even close.

VG10 is a very good steel. It's one of my favorites for an EDC knife. VG10 from Spyderco, and 154CM from Benchmade is about as "low" as I will go when buying knives. I have been on a steel snob kick recently though. It's been all S30V, D2 and ZDP.

Benchmade also does a pretty damn good 440C. One of the only companies that I like 440C from. I had a Boker Hyper in 440C that would dull in no time. A lot of it is how the company pays attention to the heat treat. I've never been impressed with AUS8 from any company (including Spyderco).

I tend to stick with Spyderco because there is so much attention to detail in the FUNCTION of their knives, rather than aesthetics or 'cool features.'

I've not used any SOG knife hard so I can't really comment on their specific steels, but given the choice, DEFINITELY go for VG10.
 
I think VG-10 is much better. It will hold a much better edge than AUS-8 and has about as good corrosion resistance (VG-10's corrosion resistance is very, very good). Both of them are supposed to be easy to sharpen.
 
TFin04 said:
Not in my opinion. Not even close.

VG10 is a very good steel. It's one of my favorites for an EDC knife. VG10 from Spyderco, and 154CM from Benchmade is about as "low" as I will go when buying knives. I have been on a steel snob kick recently though. It's been all S30V, D2 and ZDP.

Benchmade also does a pretty damn good 440C. One of the only companies that I like 440C from. I had a Boker Hyper in 440C that would dull in no time. A lot of it is how the company pays attention to the heat treat. I've never been impressed with AUS8 from any company (including Spyderco).

I tend to stick with Spyderco because there is so much attention to detail in the FUNCTION of their knives, rather than aesthetics or 'cool features.'

I've not used any SOG knife hard so I can't really comment on their specific steels, but given the choice, DEFINITELY go for VG10.
Click to expand...

Bah...154CM is as good as S30V for my purposes... I have yet to find a huge difference. VG-10 is good, gets scary sharp really fast and loses it pretty much as quickly but it stays utility sharp for a long time.
 
bfreader said:
I've been checking out SOG Spec Elite 1 knives from different vendors. Some specify VG-10 blade steel, and others AUS 8. SOG website specifies VG-10. Is it a date of manufacture issue, what ever was available at the time of manufacture? Are they equivalent steels? Thanks for any response.
Click to expand...

Good choice of knives and welcome to bladeforums :thumbup: It's one of my favorites from SOG, next to the Pentagon Elite I which has the same handle.

There was a blade steel change last summer I believe. A lot of wholesale markets who sell to dealers that you find have all of the older models in AUS 8. The newer, upgraded blades have VG-10. Unfortunately it's hard to tell unless you buy from a dealer who knows what they are talking about. A lot of eBay sellers just cut and paste what is on the site and never take a second glance at what they are selling.

You'll have to ask before buying to see if the seller can personally check the blade to see if it's marked with VG-10. The AUS 8 blades will be plain and won't say anything on them, same goes for the Pentagon Elite I.

VG-10 would be the more desired blade steel since it holds an edge longer. Hope this helps, J.
 
VG-10 is vastly superior to AUS 8. I like it better than 154CM too. Yep, it gets ferociously sharp, and It doesn't get dull quick, unless you intentionally wear it out on stuff you shouldn't be using it on.
 
While AUS-8 will make a very acceptable blade the VG-10 is certainly better by a good margin.
 
akadave2 said:
Bah...154CM is as good as S30V for my purposes... I have yet to find a huge difference. VG-10 is good, gets scary sharp really fast and loses it pretty much as quickly but it stays utility sharp for a long time.
Click to expand...

I wasn't saying 154CM was "bad" only that it and VG10 from Spyderco seem to be the most common 'good steels' they offer. I DO like S30V better than 154CM, but I have no problem carrying/using 154CM knives.
 
The VG-10 version would be my choice all the way. :D

Be careful what you buy and who it's from...it's hard to distinguish between the new and old stock on the secondary market.
 
from all the blades i have in various steel (S30V, ATS-34, 440C, 154CM, D2, etc...) i really think the VG10 is the one i prefer !
It won't hold an edge like S30V surelly... but it's so much a pleasure to sharpen !:thumbup:
Especially Mcusta VG-10:D
 
freddy1 said:
from all the blades i have in various steel (S30V, ATS-34, 440C, 154CM, D2, etc...) i really think the VG10 is the one i prefer !
It won't hold an edge like S30V surelly... but it's so much a pleasure to sharpen !:thumbup:
Especially Mcusta VG-10:D
Click to expand...

Indeed! The Mcusta VG-10 blades sharpen up like a razor with little effort and stay sharp for a long time . . .
 
Yeah, I have a SOG Field Pup in AUS-8, and it doesn't take long for it to lose its bite. Still sharp enough to use, but isn't quite as "scary sharp". Easy to sharpen, though. That's kind of the trade-off you take with a softer steel: dulls quicker, sharpens easier. Currently in the market for a better fixed that will be my main carry in the woods.

Haven't had any experience with VG-10 yet...
 
flashlightfreak9 said:
Yeah, I have a SOG Field Pup in AUS-8, and it doesn't take long for it to lose its bite. Still sharp enough to use, but isn't quite as "scary sharp". Easy to sharpen, though. That's kind of the trade-off you take with a softer steel: dulls quicker, sharpens easier. Currently in the market for a better fixed that will be my main carry in the woods.

Haven't had any experience with VG-10 yet...
Click to expand...

There is more to it than hardness.

It's not just the hardness, microstructure counts. And microstructure is highly dependent on Carbon content.

I have measured the Rockwell hardness on a number on my knives. I have also done side by side manila rope cutting with those knives taken to equal sharpness on a Sharpmaker to ensure identical edge angles.

My cutting test results on knives with the same Rockwell hardness has confirmed to me that Carbon content is a major factor in performance.

Three knives:
Buck 420HC at 59 HRC - ______C = 0.45%
Ka-Bar Dozier AUS8 at 59HRC__C= 0.85%
Spyderco Native at 59HRC_____C=1.00%

Results in edge retention:
VG10>>AUS8>420HC
VG10 Much better than AUS8 which was better than 420HC

This is not astonishing news. But sometimes folks forget.
 
I'd have to go with VG10. I have several AUS8 blades and a few of them have some rust spots. :(
And I do clean and oil my blades. That makes it much more disappointing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top