AUS-8 Stainless Steel

AUS-8 is a Japanese high-quality stainless steel from the manufacturer Aichi Steel, which is used for the production of knives, particularly folding, kitchen, and hunting knives. It is valued for its high corrosion resistance thanks to its chromium content, good hardness and toughness (56-59 HRC), and ease of sharpening. The steel has a balanced price-quality ratio and is suitable for everyday use.

AUS-8 holds its edge well for a steel in its class and possesses good wear resistance when working with non-challenging materials, while also demonstrating decent resistance to accidental impacts. It is easily workable and quickly achieves sharpness when being sharpened.

This steel is known for its stable quality and is relatively inexpensive, offering an excellent balance between price and performance. Due to this, it is widely used by many manufacturers of modern knives.

Steel AUS-8A (AUS 8A), is essentially identical to AUS-8 (AUS 8), but undergoes an additional process of annealing.

Characteristics of AUS-8 steel

AUS-8 is a popular stainless steel that offers an excellent balance between performance, durability, and price, making it an ideal choice for Everyday Carry (EDC) knives.

Cost-effectiveness and accessibility

AUS-8 is one of the most economically viable steels in its class. It provides high cutting quality and sufficient durability, yet costs significantly cheaper than premium powder or high-carbon stainless alloys. This makes it an ideal choice for mass production and allows the end consumer to get a reliable, functional knife without extra costs. Thanks to this excellent price-to-quality ratio, AUS-8 is often recommended as a "workhorse" for beginners.

Popularity among manufacturers

Thanks to its stable quality and predictable characteristics, AUS-8 has earned the trust of many global knife manufacturers. Its versatility allows this steel to be used for both thin, yet strong kitchen knives, and for thicker and more load-resistant folding or hunting models. Manufacturers value AUS-8 for its stable heat treatment quality, which minimizes manufacturing defects and guarantees that the steel's characteristics will correspond to the declared 57-59 HRC.

Key properties of AUS-8

• Hardness: the steel has a working hardness range of 57-59 HRC (Rockwell scale). This level ensures excellent edge retention and reliability for most cutting tasks.
• Toughness (Strength): AUS-8 demonstrates excellent toughness, allowing it to withstand high loads, impacts, and bending without chipping or cracks. this makes it a reliable choice for intensive use.
• Corrosion resistance: the steel has good resistance to corrosion, effectively combating rust and stains from moisture and chemical substances. Although it may slightly lag behind some high-alloy stainless steels, its resistance is more than sufficient for most environments.
• Ease of sharpening: even users with basic skills can easily maintain AUS-8. The steel quickly gains sharpness and responds well to various sharpening methods (stones, systems), ensuring simplicity of maintenance.
• Cutting performance: the steel easily accepts a very sharp edge and holds it well. Regular stropping is recommended to maintain optimal performance.

Chemical composition

Popular AUS-8 equivalents

If you are looking for steels with similar characteristics and balance, pay attention to the following common equivalents:

1. 8Cr13MoV: a Chinese stainless steel known for its ratio of strength, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening. Often used in budget knives.
2. 9Cr18MoV: another Chinese steel. It is comparable to AUS-8, but has slightly better hardness, corrosion resistance, and edge retention, which is why it is often found in mid-range knives.
3. 440B: a low-carbon stainless steel with decent corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening. Common in cheaper knives.
4. X55CrMo14: a European stainless steel close to AUS-8 in composition. It is popular in kitchen knives and outdoor tools, offering excellent hardness and ease of maintenance.

By choosing AUS-8 steel, you get a reliable cutting tool with an excellent balance of properties.

AUS-8 is a high-quality, cost-effective working steel that offers an excellent compromise between cutting performance, durability, rust resistance, and price. It is a reliable "workhorse" that meets the requirements of most users without requiring expert knowledge in sharpening or care.