It has a Carbon content between 0.95-1.05%, a Chromium content between 13.0-15.0%, a Molybdenum content between 0.20-0.40% and, it contains less than 0.25% Nickel. The SK5 version has a hollow grind. If you find a knife you love in AUS-8, it's okay! Not crazy hollow, but more pronounced than the aus8. The Cold Steel SRK is made of Aus8a steel. Comparison of steel grades by chemistry; EN # EN name SAE UNS DIN BS 970 UNI JIS; Carbon steels; 1.1141 1.0401 1.0453: C15D C18D: 1018: CK15 C15 C16.8: 040A15 080M15 080A15 VG-1. I would think they are all much of a muchness. 86. See more AUS-8 steel knives. Spyderco makes the Atlantic and Pacific Salt out of H-1 Steel, which no one seems to be able to get to rust, a claim that 440C or AUS-8 could never make. The Trail Master and Recon Scout are made from Sk5 which = 1080. That all being said since I already have an Ontario sp10(which I love by the way, simply a beast) I plan on getting a Trail Master and BK-9 next. VG-1 is a less expensive Japanese stainless steel somewhat similar to 420HC but which is mostly used by Cold Steel on knives that require a tough blade steel composition. sk5 vs 1095 Discussion in 'General Knife Discussion' started by theaxel, Jul 17, 2013. I dont have any experience with 1095 but from what I understand its a pretty basic tool steel, much like O-1. CS17T Cold Steel Kobun ON8848 ONTARIO RAT 1 LINERLOCK PLAIN 719075 Kuro Higonokami (Pocket Knife)leather case CS49LCKZ Cold Steel SRK SK5 Steel CS49LRTZ Cold Steel Recon Tanto SK5 Steel CR2841 CRKT Kommer 2-Shot Lockback ON8867 Ontario Rat 1 With D2 Steel KS6034 Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K BRK1301 ESEE Avispa KA4073 Ka-Bar Dozier Skeleton The great thing about cutlery, is that any knife can get equally sharp regardless of steel. Paid Subscribers don't see ads! Abuse it. You wouldn’t find anything less than a 440C in a Benchmade knife, for example. VG-1 is a non-powder steel made by Japanese specialty steelmaker Takefu. 60-61: AUS 6A: A medium to high carbon stainless steel, this steel holds a good edge and is particularly well suited for heavy, long blades that are subjected to a lot of stress while chopping and hacking. SK5 vs aus 8. AUS-8/8A are said to be comparable to the 440C, but nothing beats the real thing. Stainless steel: Stainless steel is created much the same way as carbon steel, however chrome is added to the mix. I really like the smaller ricasso, but hate the hollow grind. Sharpen it! Just keep in mind that knives made from AUS-8 are generally very affordable. Simply put … Old problem fixed, new one unnecessarily added Generally seen as a slight upgrade to the 440C/VG-10/ATS-34 caliber of steel… Carbon steel: Most Japanese knives will fall under this first category. H-1 still holds a decent edge, is relatively easy to sharpen, and work hardens the edge up, which was an unexpected edge holding bonus. Jul 17, 2013 #1. theaxel. 440C and SK5 are both higher-end steels that are used in more established knife making companies. Carbon steel is made through the process of adding carbon to steel made from iron ore. AUS-8 can be readily found in one of our best-selling knife models, the Boker Kalashnikov. Use it. This steel has good edge holding properties and high corossion resistance, but is more difficult to resharpen than lower chromium steels. Buy it. As quenched, it has a hardness near Rc 65 and produces a mixture of carbon rich martensite with some small un-dissolved carbides. SK-5 is the Japanese equivalent of American 1080, a high carbon steel with carbon between 0.75%-0.85% and 0.60%-0.90% manganese.