I was wondering which type of steel you liked better for an EDC knife? AUS 8A steel or VG-1 steel?

I went with AUS 8a as I have a few knives with this steel and none with VG-1. I'm a believer in that what the manufacturer does with  a steel is just as important as it's composition.  An example of this would be Buck's 440 steel. Great heat treat and edge grind makes it as easy to get sharp and maintain as just about  anyone's super steel. So far I feel the same way about the AUS in my recon and mini AK-47, though not super steels they are more than adequate. It might also help that I believe in preventative maintenance, i.e. sharpening knives before they are dull.

I have yet to meet or talk to a person seriously into their knives and who has strong experience with both AUS-8 and VG-1 tell me that there is a very big difference.

Facing facts... these two steels seem remarkably similar.

If you want to get technical, the composition of the steels are very similar, with VG-1 having a slightly higher carbon content. That being said, the higher carbon content to which we are talking about is NOT going to be giving you a blade with much of a noticeable difference at all when it comes to edge quality, infact... I would say it doesnt hold a better edge than AUS-8, but it doesnt hold a worse one either. Once you get into metalurgy, you realise carbon in the blade is not the whole story.

Even the most finicky of sharpeners have said that there is very little difference between the two, if anything the VG-1 is a smidge harder to sharpen than AUS-8 but holds its edge a smidge longer than AUS-8. By smidge, we are probably talking about a level of difference your average knife enthusiast is NOT going to notice, let along a general customer. This is also be due to heat treatments, and the RC values I have no doubt between manufacturers.

Cold Steel seem to do a good job on their heat treatments... I have seen far more issues with their blades in the last couple of years than I think I have seen throughout Cold Steels lifetime, but thats what happens when you get larger, and produce more blades, the error percentage increases with it, its just numbers.

I would not let the difference between VG-1 and AUS-8 influence your decision when it comes to a knife purchase. .

P.S.

I have both, and I have yet to notice a difference between them. This is just one opinion though, and there are better blade sharpeners than myself around who might have various experiences between the two.

I find Aus-8 easier to sharpen, but haven't noticed much difference between the edge holding capabilities of the two. I THINK that VG-1 has better corrosion resistance though, and it definitely takes a bright satin polish better.

I like both equally, but neither are my steel of preference.

That being said, I voted Aus-8 because it generally lowers the cost of a knife, and is easy for me to sharpen or touch up.

Similar steels, AUS-8 is easy to sharpen.

War to the knife, knife to the hilt

 

 Are you a turtle?

I voted VG-1 as it seems to take a fine edge and a great polish, as mentioned. That said, I have had stellar results from both and would be hard pressed to choose for all practical purposes.

It depends on which model we are talking about. I am biased towards liking most things CS but....
 
I have had excellent results with the VG-1 and SMIII. The VG-1 just gets and stays sharp easily.
 
The AUS8 is not as stellar but when considering cost per unit it is worth evey penny. If you keep up on edge work and honing, this steel is more than adequate.
 
 I will admit the Krupp line from China was not my favorite but most of that has been moved to Taiwan now and upgraded to AUS8.

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In my observation based on 30 years of knife collecting and use AUS8A is more rust resistent than VG1 but the latter have a little more edge holding ability. Sincerely I haven't found that great difference between the two steel, there is but not so much. With modern diamond rods sharpening is pretty the same.    

VG-1 all day long...

VG-1. I can put a better edge on it but the most important thing is the good edge retention. I don't walk around with a sharpener so it's good when the edge lasts a while.

VG-1 for sure.

Natchez Bowie, San Mai III Trailmaster, SK-5 Trail Master (MARTEMP), Laredo Bowie (Carbon V Made in USA), Original 5 3/4" Tanto (1986), Mini Bushman, 2 Spikes, Recon 1 (Old), Recon 1 (New), Hatamoto, Black Talon, 4" Voyager, Gunsite II, Gunsite, Recon Tanto Carbon V, Black Rhino, Rajah 1, American Lawman G10 Vers, 2010 Recon 1.

If you break it down into performance per cost, I have to say the value is about equal. In terms of pure performance, VG-1 has the edge (did I just make a knife pun?), but not by a huge margin. However, in my experience, given an identical level sharpness, the VG-1 "bites" just a little more effectively.

Beware the fury of a patient man.
 
"Those who cannot bravely face danger are the slaves of their attackers."
Aristotle


"Fighting spirit one must have. Even if a man lacks some of the other qualifications, he can often make up for it in fighting spirit." Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF

Based on my experience with aus8 and vg10 (since it's vg1's big brother) I'd prefer vg1.

jzmtl


Based on my experience with aus8 and vg10 (since it's vg1's big brother) I'd prefer vg1.

Seconded.

CS Blades - Bushmans Bowie, Voyager X2 2009 ed, Rajah 2 2009 ed, Scimitar Spike, Pocket Bushman (thanks CS) And I know that when I die http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zspU9LWZWFM The Life! http://www.youtube.com/...V87Y&feature=related and closed the old ways to the joy and the light http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--C9Yzlvfrk

VG1 for the thin blades like K4, or doing a lot of slicing. Aus8 if I might be doing a little prying.