Stainless steel · Aichi SteelAUS-8 AUS-8
Also called: AUS8 · 8A
AUS-8 is a stainless stainless steel from Aichi Steel: 0.70–0.80% carbon, 13.00–14.50% chromium, and a maker hardening hardness of HRC 59 (reference value).
Composition
| C | Si | Mn | Ni | Cr | Mo | V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.70–0.80 | ≤0.8 | ≤0.50 | ≤0.30 | 13.00–14.50 | 0.10–0.30 | 0.10–0.25 |
Mass %. As published by the steelmaker (typical or representative values). Hardness: 59 (reference value), Aichi Techno Metal Fukaumi.
What the data says
AUS-8 is an Aichi Steel stainless with 0.70–0.80% carbon and 13.00–14.50% chromium, plus small additions of molybdenum and vanadium. Aichi Steel says the AUS series adds carbon, vanadium and molybdenum for hardness, wear resistance and temper resistance.
The figures we show, including a reference hardness of 59 HRC, come from Aichi Steel’s group company Aichi Techno Metal Fukaumi; Aichi Steel’s own blade-steel page gives no composition table.
It has less carbon than AUS-10 and Ginsan, which share a similar chromium range.
AUS-8 compared with similar steels
| Steel | Type | C % | Cr % | Maker HRC | CATRA mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS-8 | Stainless | 0.70–0.80 | 13.00–14.50 | 59 (reference value) | — |
| AUS-10 | Stainless | 0.95–1.10 | 13.00–14.50 | 60 (reference value) | — |
| Ginsan (Silver #3) | Stainless | 0.95–1.10 | 13.00–14.50 | ≥59 | — |
| VG-10 | Stainless | 1.00 | 15.00 | ≥60 | 479 @ 61.6 |
See all 15 steels in the Japanese knife steel chart, or compare up to three at once in the steel explorer.
Care
AUS-8 is a stainless steel, so occasional wetness will not rust it the way it rusts a carbon steel, but washing by hand and drying it keeps the edge and handle in good condition.
Buying a AUS-8 knife from a shop in Japan? Japanese kitchen knives currently pay about 31% US import duty — use the import duty calculator to compare with a US retailer.
Frequently asked questions
- Is AUS-8 stainless?
- Yes. AUS-8 contains 13.00–14.50% chromium, above the roughly 10.5% that defines a stainless steel.
- How hard is AUS-8?
- Aichi Steel publishes a hardening hardness of HRC 59 (reference value) (reference value from Aichi Techno Metal Fukaumi). The hardness of a finished knife depends on the knifemaker’s heat treatment.
- Who makes AUS-8?
- AUS-8 is made by Aichi Steel.
- AUS-8 vs AUS-10: what is the difference?
- AUS-8: C 0.70–0.80%, Cr 13.00–14.50%, maker hardness HRC 59 (reference value). AUS-10: C 0.95–1.10%, Cr 13.00–14.50%, maker hardness HRC 60 (reference value).
Sources
Checked 2026-10-21. Found a better source or an error? Tell us.