When it comes to choosing the right steel for a knife, there are numerous options available, each with its own unique characteristics and properties. Two popular choices among knife enthusiasts are AUS-10 and VG-10. In this article, look at these two knife steels to see which is better and why.
Short Answer:
While AUS-10 offers excellent toughness and ease of sharpening, VG-10 is known for its exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance.
In-Depth Look at AUS-10
AUS-10 is a Japanese stainless steel known for its balanced combination of toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance.
AUS-10 composition:
- 1.1% carbon
- 13% chromium
- 0.2% vanadium
Toughness: AUS-10 is highly regarded for its toughness, making it resistant to chipping, bending, and breakage during use.
Edge Retention: While not as good as some other steels, AUS-10 still offers good edge retention, especially when properly heat-treated. It is a pretty middle-of-the-road steel when it comes to edge retention. However, sharpening and getting a razor sharp edge will be pretty easy.
Corrosion Resistance: AUS-10 provides decent corrosion resistance, although it may not be as resistant to rust and staining as some higher-chromium steels.
In-Depth Look at VG-10
VG-10 is a premium Japanese stainless steel known for its exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance.
VG-10 composition:
- 1% carbon
- 15% chromium
- 1% molybdenum
- 0.2% vanadium
Edge Retention: VG-10 is renowned for its outstanding edge retention, making it a popular choice for high-end kitchen knives and folding knives. For the price, VG-10 is extremely hard to beat in terms of edge retention.
Corrosion Resistance: VG-10 offers excellent corrosion resistance, making it suitable for use in humid or wet environments. Its high chromium content helps prevent rust and staining, ensuring long-term durability.
Toughness: While not as tough as some other steels like AUS-10 or S30V, VG-10 still offers decent toughness for most cutting tasks. However, it may be more prone to chipping or damage under heavy use or abuse so it is better for things such as everyday use.
In-Depth Comparison
Edge Retention: VG-10 has superior edge retention compared to AUS-10, making it the preferred choice for users who prioritize prolonged sharpness without frequent sharpening.
Corrosion Resistance: VG-10 offers better corrosion resistance than AUS-10, making it more suitable for environments where exposure to moisture and humidity is a concern.
Toughness: AUS-10 is generally considered to be tougher than VG-10, making it more resistant to chipping and breakage under heavy use or abuse.
Ease of Sharpening: AUS-10 is easier to sharpen than VG-10, thanks to its lower hardness and finer grain structure. This makes it more forgiving for users without advanced sharpening skills.
Best knives in each steel
Now that we have looked at each steel in-depth and how they compare, we can look at what the best knives in each steel are.
Cold Steel AD-10 (AUS-10)
The Cold Steel AD-10 is a reliable folding knife that is exceptional for EDC. This knife has a 3.5-inch blade, a 5.3-inch GFN handle, and weighs 6.4 ounces. If you want a budget friendly high quality knife that is still tough and durable with a good steel, this is a knife you should look at.
Check out this knife here (link to Amazon)
Spyderco Leafjumper
This knife is a high-quality knife that delivers in all ways for an EDC knife. The Leafjumper has a 3-inch VG-10 blade, an FRN (fiberglass reinforced) handle, a back lock for extra locking strength, and on top of all that, it has a thumb hole so it won’t get snagged on your pocket when you draw it. Overall, if you are looking for a knife that is high quality and guaranteed to work for any task you use it for, this is the knife for you.
Check out this knife here (link to Amazon)
Conclusion
In conclusion, both AUS-10 and VG-10 are excellent choices for knife steels, each offering its own set of advantages and characteristics. AUS-10 excels in toughness and ease of sharpening, making it suitable for heavy-duty tasks and users who prefer easy maintenance. On the other hand, VG-10 boasts exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for users who demand sharpness and durability in their knives.