More and more steels are being made to meet more specific needs. This happened with Japanese AUS-8 steel. Its main purpose is to make knives and blades. It has been in production for about a hundred years, but thanks to its characteristics, it has still not lost its relevance.

General information

AUS-8 steel is a high-alloy alloy with increased hardness. The chemical composition of steels is regulated by the Japanese standard. According to it, the chemical composition of the alloy contains the following elements:

• Carbon (0.7-0.75%). Task of this element- bind free iron molecules, thereby strengthening them. Naturally, the greater the amount of carbon in the composition, the higher the hardness and strength. But after crossing a certain boundary, strength gradually begins to turn into fragility. In AUS-8 steel, this balance is maintained. But it is worth noting that a large number of carbon negatively affects the ductility and, accordingly, the manufacturability of the alloy.
• Silicon (1.0-1.1%). In AUS-8, silicon acts as a deoxidizer, i.e. it removes oxygen molecules from steels. Due to this, chemical segregation is reduced, which has a beneficial effect on the mechanical properties of steels. In addition, it is worth noting that with such an increase in strength, steel does not lose its ductile properties.
• Manganese (0.5-0.6%). Manganese, like silicon, cleans steel from harmful impurities: oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. It improves the surface quality of steels and gives them additional resistance to mechanical stress.
• Molybdenum (0.1%) and vanadium (0.1%). These elements themselves belong to the group of refractory metals, which means they have a high melting point. For this reason, they have a positive effect on heat resistance, i.e. preservation of its mechanical characteristics with increasing temperature. But their quantity in AUS-8 is too small to significantly affect its properties.
• Chromium (13.0-14.5%). Chromium, as an alloying element, plays one of the main roles in steel. It increases such characteristics of the alloy as heat resistance, corrosion resistance and enhances the effect of heat treatment. Chromium also has a positive effect on the resistance of steel to abrasive wear.
• Sulfur (0.02%) and phosphorus (0.02%). These are harmful impurities. Their inclusion in the composition is extremely undesirable, but inevitable. The reason for this is the imperfection of the chemical composition of the alloys and charge from which steel is smelted. Exceeding the permissible limits significantly harms the mechanical characteristics of stainless steel. This is especially true for sulfur. In addition, it contributes to the appearance of cracks when heat treatment alloy

Analogs

As mentioned earlier, AUS-8 is a product of Japanese metallurgy. But in the world there are many analogues of this material, which have a similar chemical composition and mechanical characteristics. Among them it is worth highlighting the following:

• 95X18 - Russia.
• Steel z100CD17 - France.
• Steel 440B - United States of America.
• 1.4125 - Germany.
• H18 - Poland.

Physical properties

The specific gravity of AUS-8 is 7750 kg/m3. The melting process begins at a temperature of 1550 degrees. The complete transition of solid particles into the liquid phase occurs at 1660 C.

Steel is quite elastic. Young's modulus is 2,000,000 kg/cm2. Because of this, steel resists impact loads well. The impact strength is 12-18 kJ/m2.

Steel accumulates heat quite well. Its specific heat capacity coefficient is 485 J/kg*degree. Thermal conductivity at a temperature of 20 ºС is 24 W/m*degree. An increase in temperature causes the material to expand. With an increase of 100 ºС, its linear size changes by 11.8 microns.

AUS-8 is not designed to transmit electric current. Its electrical resistance value is too high for this and is 250 MOhm*m.

Corrosion resistance characteristics

The presence of chromium makes steel insensitive to environments with acidity pH = 4.3-4.8. Also, no traces of corrosion form on the surface during prolonged exposure to water. This stainless steel shows satisfactory corrosion resistance when interacting with 3% alkaline solutions.

Does not enter into chemical reactions with organic compounds. Resistant to corrosion when working with sanitary products.

The penetration of oxygen into the gas begins at a temperature of 600 ºС. Hydrogen - 500 ºС.

Mechanical properties

The main feature of steel is its high hardness. Depending on the thermal and machining it can reach a value of 60 units on the Rockwell scale.

The second feature is increased strength. Fracture of the alloy occurs only at loads above 770 MPa. No deformation processes are observed in this case up to 600 MPa, which looks surprising if you look at the similar indicators of other alloy steels.

AUS-8 also performed well when operating under cyclic alternating load conditions. It is capable of withstanding 6,000,000 cycles when exposed to forces of 700 MPa.

But such increased strength characteristics greatly affect the plastic properties. The relative tensile elongation is only 15%, and the relative compression is 30%.

Technological features

AUS-8 is processed only by pressure at sufficient high temperatures, which range from 950-1100 ºС. In this way, rolled products in the form of sheets and strips are obtained from the material.

Highest value mechanical properties corresponds to heat treatment, including hardening and tempering. Hardening consists of heating to a temperature of 1050 ºС followed by rapid cooling in oil. The hardness in such conditions reaches a value of 65 HRC.

Although such steel has high hardness, it has internal uneven tension. To level it, low tempering is used. The hardness decreases slightly, but the resistance of the alloy to impact loads increases. Tempering involves heating to 150 ºС with further cooling in air.

Characteristics of steel taking into account its constituent elements: reduced wear resistance. Excellent impact resistance. Steel with highest degree corrosion resistance (stainless). Approximate Rockwell strength 58 HRC.
AUS-6 - AUS-8 - AUS-10 (6A 8A 10A) These are Japanese grades of stainless steel, comparable to grade 440A (AUS-6 steel, contains 0.65% carbon) and 440B steel (AUS-8, 0. 75% carbon), as well as with 440C (AUS-10, 1.1% carbon).
AUS-6 steel is used by Al Mar; Cold Steel uses AUS-8, which has made this grade quite popular. Although the Cold Steel hardening of this steel does not hold an edge as well as ATS-34, it is a little softer and perhaps a little stronger. AUS-10 contains almost as much carbon as 440C, but slightly less chromium, so it resists corrosion a little less but is perhaps a little harder.

Steel composition, %
Carbon	Chromium	Manganese	Molybdenum	Nickel	Phosphorus	Silicon	Sulfur	Vanadium
0,70-0,75	13-14,5	0,5	0,10-0,30	0,49	0,4	1	0,03	0,10-0,25

All three of these types of steel contain an admixture of vanadium (which is absent in the entire 440 series), which adds wear resistance to the metal.

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TOP 10 best knife steels

We have prepared for you a rating of the most popular steels used in the manufacture of knife blades. In our rating, we were based on a survey of our respected visitors and buyers of the TOP KNIFE online store. The survey was conducted over the course of a whole year.

So, our TOP 10 knife steels:

1. M390

2.ELMAX

3. D2

4.CPM S30V

5. X12MF

6. CPM S35VN

7. 440C

8. VG-10

9. ZDP-189

10. AUS-8.

Let's look at the listed steels in more detail.

1. M390 (Austria) - premium martensitic chromium powder steel produced by the Austrian steel company Bohler-Uddeholm( Austria). A unique powder metallurgical manufacturing process promotes uniform distribution of carbides throughout all chemical elements of the steel. M390 steel is widely used in medical and surgical instruments, in industry for the production of various machines that perform the complex process of drilling hard materials. The average hardening range is 58-62 HRs.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.90%, Chromium (Cr) - 20.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.00%, Vanadium (V) - 4.00%, Silicon (Si) - 0.70% , Manganese (Mn) - 0.30%, Tungsten (W) - 0.60%.

Knife blades made of M390 steel have increased corrosion resistance, ultra-high performance, excellent cutting ability and wear resistance due to the very high content of vanadium and chromium carbides. The M390, along with the CPM 30V-35VN, Elmax and Vanax 35, represent a kind of “gold standard” for the production of mid- and high-end utility knives.

Analogs: USA - Duratech 20CV (CPM 20CV), CTS-XHP, CTS 204P.

2. ELMAX (Austria) - chrome-molybdenum-vanadium powder stainless steel tool steel produced by Böhler-Uddeholm (Sweden-Austria). Initially, steel was intended for the manufacture of cutting elements for machines processing plastics of various compositions and properties. It is distinguished by very high corrosion resistance, long-lasting sharpness of the cutting edge, ease of sharpening and significant strength - all this has found its application in the manufacture of knife blades by various manufacturers. The hardness range of blades made from ELMAX steel is 58-62 Hrc.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) 1.7%, Silicon (Si) 0.8%, Manganese (Mn) 0.3%, Chromium (Cr) 18.0%, Molybdenum (Mo) 1.0%, Vanadium ( V) 3.0%.

ELMAX steel has the best price-quality ratio and outperforms similar steels S30V and RWL34 in terms of production cost without compromising the consumer properties of blades.

In its composition, ELMAX steel is very similar to 440C steel, used in the production of knives. The difference is the presence of vanadium in the composition. The steel holds various sharpening angles well, grinds well, but does not tolerate shock loads and lateral fracture loads.

The ELMAX steel blade is an excellent solution for a universal knife. Used for the production of knives of middle and higher classes.

3. D2 (USA)- “semi-stainless” alloy tool steel made in the USA. D2 steel is often used to make high-speed cutters. Despite not being 100 percent corrosion resistant, this indicator is significantly superior to any carbon steel.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) 1.50%, Manganese (Mn) 0.60%, Silicon (S)i 0.60%, Chromium (Cr) 12.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) 1.00%, Vanadium (V) 1.10%, Nickel (Ni) 0.30%.

Steel has high strength, which allows you to maintain the sharpness of the cutting edge for a long time. The hardness range of steel used in the production of knife blades is 57-61 HRc.

Analogs: Germany 1.2379 (X155CrVMo12-1), Russia X12MF.

4. CPM S30V (USA)- powder martensitic (high-carbon) stainless steel from Crucible Materials Corporation (USA), which has been producing the CPM (Crucible Particle Metallurgy process) family of powder steels since the 70s of the 20th century: CPM S30V, CPM S60V, CPM S90V.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.45%, Chromium (Cr) - 14%, Vanadium (V) - 4%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 2%.

Availability in chemical composition steel with more vanadium carbides significantly increases the cutting and strength properties of knife blades. A blade made of S30V steel has four times higher fracture strength than 440C steel and 3.5 times higher than 154CM steel. This makes the cutting edge highly resistant to chipping and chipping, making it an excellent material for blades. In terms of ability to hold an edge (wear resistance), S30V steel exceeds 440C by 45%, and 154CM by 30%. According to Buck Knives, S30V is "the finest blade steel available." S30V is used for the production of blades by almost all leading knife manufacturing companies: Buck , Spyderco , Zero Tolerance , Strider Kives , Chris Reeve and others. It can safely be called the “gold standard” for serial and piece knives of the middle and high class. Most manufacturers process it to a hardness of 58-60 Hrc. In terms of its properties, S30V is one of the most balanced steels in comparison with modern D2, 440C and 154CM. It has excellent cutting properties, high corrosion resistance, impact toughness, the ability to hold an edge for a long time and quickly restore it when straightening.

5. X12MF (Russia)

6. CPM S35VN (USA)- martensitic powder stainless steel, produced by the American metallurgical company Crucible Industries (USA), is an improved version of CPMS30V steel in terms of impact strength. Technological process Powder steel manufacturing produces very uniform, high quality steel that is superior in stability, uniformity and toughness compared to traditional heat produced steels. A famous knife designer took part in the development of this steel. Chris Reeve(Chris Reeve) from South Africa (RSA).

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.40%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.00%, Niobium (Nb) - 0.50%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 2.00%, Vanadium (V) - 3.00% .

The presence of niobium carbides in S35VN makes it possible to increase the strength properties of the blade in terms of hardness by 15-20% compared to CPM S30V steel. Improved CPMS35VN steel is more resistant to chipping during use and holds an edge better than conventional high-chrome steels such as 440C and D2. Blades made from S35VN steel are easy to sharpen. The blade hardness range is 58-61 Hrc.

7. 440C (USA)- modern chromium steel with an excellent combination of high hardness and excellent corrosion resistance. Of the entire group of 440 steels, it is most suitable for the production of folding knife blades, as it is the hardest.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 1.10%, Chromium (Cr) - 17.00%, Silicon (Si) - 1.00%, Manganese (Mn) - 1.00%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 0.75%, Phosphorus (P) - 0.04%, Sulfur(S) - 0.03%.

It has good cutting edge resistance to dullness and relative ease of sharpening. For a long time, 440C steel was considered the standard for high-quality stainless steel for knives and is considered one of the most balanced knife steels in its properties. The steel is quite common throughout the world and has a well-deserved positive reputation, but it is also the most expensive of the 440 group of steels. The range of hardness 440C used in the production of knife blades is 58-60 HRc.

Analogs: Russia 95Х18, Germany X102CrMo17, France Z100CD17, Japan AUS-10.

8. VG-10 (Japan)- developed by Takefu Special Steel Co., Ltd. (Japan). It is a high-carbon and corrosion-resistant steel alloyed with cobalt and molybdenum.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) 0.95-1.05%; Chromium (Cr) 14.50-15.50%; Cobalt(Co) 1.30-1.50%; Vanadium(V) 0.50%; Molybdenum (Mo) 0.90-1.20%.

The toughness of this steel allows hardening to a hardness of 60-63 Hrc, while maintaining optimal cutting edge properties. Distinctive feature VG-10 is based on the use of cobalt in its composition, an expensive and rare alloying additive in alloys, which gives steel more hardness and toughness. VG-10 steel is used in the production of knives by many of the world's leading brands. In Japan, blades from this steel are made by Mcusta, Mikadzo, Tojiro, Kasumi and other companies. Spyderco , Cold Steel , SOG , Camillus , FALLKNIVEN , Browning and others, not only make blades from VG-10, but many of them completely place the production of their knives in Japan. Knives with blades made of VG-10 are characterized by very high resistance to corrosion (they practically do not rust). They are easy to “razor” when sharpened, are not as fragile as “bearing” steels and, compared to other blade alloys, hold the sharpening edge of the main phase of working use, which begins after the loss of the first, “factory” sharpening and ends when it becomes necessary to sharpen a dull knife.

9. ZDP-189 (Japan)- powder tool super-steel with a high content of chromium and carbon. Produced since 1996 for the knife industry by the Japanese metallurgical company Hitachi Metals (Japan) based on the technology of amorphous metal alloys. It is one of the most structurally balanced high-carbon steels. ZDP-189 steel is characterized by impact resistance and high corrosion resistance.

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 2.90-3.00%, Chromium (Cr) - 19.00-20.50%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 0.90-1.0%, Vanadium (V) - 0.25-0.35%, Silicon (Si) - 0.35%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.50%, Tungsten (W) - 0.60%.

Some knife manufacturers harden their ZDP-189 steel blades to a hardness of 69 HRc. With such hardness, large impact and mechanical loads should be avoided.

Analogues: no.

10. AUS-8 (Japan)- corrosion-resistant steel produced by Aichi Steel Works (Japan).

Steel composition: Carbon (C) - 0.80%, Chromium (Cr) - 14.5%, Silicon (Si) - 0.60%, Manganese (Mn) - 0.40%, Vanadium (V) - 0, 30%, Molybdenum (Mo) - 1.1%.

Along with AUS-6 steel, AUS-8 is one of the most widely used Japanese stainless steels by knife manufacturers around the world. Blades made of this steel have an optimal ratio of flexibility and hardness of 56-59 Hrs. They are characterized by excellent cutting properties, mechanical endurance, high quality manufacturing, corrosion resistance and relatively low price. Knives with AUS-8 blades do not require frequent sharpening and most brands of abrasives and improvised tools that do not require special skills are suitable for them.
AUS-8A steel is manufactured for American company Cold Steel and differs from AUS-8 with a slightly higher carbon content (1%). In terms of their consumer properties, these are the same steel.

Analogs: USA steel 440C; Japan AUS-8(AUS-8A); Sweden AEB-L; China 8Cr13MoV; RF 75Х16МФ and 95Х18.

We thank everyone who took part in our survey and hope you enjoyed learning about the ten most popular steels.

Sincerely,

Perhaps the reader will be interested in comparative information on the impact strength of some popular tool and stainless steels. The data below was the result of research using the Charpy C method, which was described and published several years ago on BladeForums - I recommend registering on this reputable resource (a link to it can be found in the sources at the end of the article) plus some other sources.

Yes, I understand that the data provided is subjective and test results may vary due to certain factors and conditions. Nevertheless, I think that this information deserves attention and can be useful for those who work with metal or choose a knife for themselves.

Below is information about the test results using the Charpy C Ft. Lb:

Sample steel	H.R.C.	Strength
Tool steels:
CPM-15V	60	10
CPM-10V	60	25
CPM-10V	60	20
CPM-9V	54	54
CPM-9V	49	73
CPM-3V	62	40
CPM-3V	60	60
CPM-3V	60	70
CPM-3V	58	85
CPM-4V	62	36
CPM-4V	60	50
CPM-M4	65,5	20
CPM-M4	64	31
CPM-M4	63,5	28
CPM-M4	62	32
CPM-M48	64	16
CPM-T15	65	20
M2	62	20
D2	60	20
D2	59	21
A2	61	31
A2	60	38
A2	60	40
A2	60	41
A2	59	37
A2	58	33
S7	58	120
S7	57	125
L6	60	40
O1	64	14
O1	63	28
O1	62	30
O1	61	30
O1	60	30
O1	59	30
O1	56	32
H13	47	125
A11	61	20
Z-Wear PM	60	65
Vanadis 4	60	50
Stainless steels:
CPM-S90V	58	19
CPM-S90V	56	20
CPM-S60V	56	16
CPM-S30V	58	28
CPM-S35VN	58	32
CPM-154	60	30
154CM	58	28
440C	58	16
440C	56	26
420HC	58	24
M390	60	22

ZAT (Dnepr, Ukraine)
http://www.site/

October 22, 2019

October 17, 2019

ZAT (Dnepr, Ukraine)

October 15, 2019

In the Sharpening Blog itself, in recent years there has been a large selection of articles on the work of this and other manicure tool, its choice, advantages and disadvantages. If you choose something from Stalex and/or follow the new products of this brand, then the information will definitely be useful to you. Take note... If you are looking for a tool with a different name, pay attention to the selection of articles. And be sure to read the information from the "" section - you are unlikely to find it anywhere else.

And by the way. Where do you sharpen? Our workshop is always at your service. Comfortable. Promptly. Qualitatively. Our services are used by manicurists from all over Ukraine.

ZAT (Dnepr, Ukraine)

October 12, 2019

ZAT (Dnepr, Ukraine)
http://www.site/

07 October 2019

Soft steels are a completely different matter. As a rule, these are inexpensive knives and few people are willing to pay for their full sharpening, choosing its reduced budget option. But the day gets interesting when the owner of the knife chooses a premium level sharpening. There is already room for development here for natural stones - from the initial stage to the finishing stones of the level, or.

For harder steels (for example, such as), the work of natural stones often begins with, and ends, for example, with or the same. Of course, this is only generalized and does not take into account complete sets, which depend, among other things. depending on the purpose of the knife and the wishes of its owner.

If we take the last year - from last summer to this summer, then three stones became a discovery for me - green and burgundy Brazilian slate (I already mentioned them above), as well as. If the first ones, together with other finishing stones, have practically solved all the issues with the finish, incl. for the same soft steels, I consider Hindostan one of the best finishing stones for kitchen knives - I like the aggressive and at the same time soft cut obtained after using this stone.

Well, the use of the same Brazilian slates on soft steels made it possible to remove Llyn Idwall from these sets. Damn it, but still - how amazingly this stone works on the M390! I have never regretted buying it.

I sharpen quite a few kitchen knives made of X30Cr13, so I pay a lot of attention to this issue. It so happens that I use Translucent Arkansas with them mainly on chefs. If I’m in the mood, I can work on it, which significantly increases durability and extends the life of the knife at least until the first edit.

I understand all the reader’s skepticism regarding the existence of cold hardening, but I myself was like that until I figured out this issue, having received a hardened edge. Before I forget, I’ll also note at this point that yes, it makes sense to use oleic acid at this stage (see link at the end of the article). IMHO, only here it is necessary to distinguish between technical and cosmetic olein, plus monitor the thickness of the layer when applying it. Again, this is subjective, but technical olein works noticeably better.

Using the word “hardening” so boldly, I note that I have achieved an increase in the retention of the razor sharpening (when the knife shaves the hair on the arm) to 15 days without any editing. I think that for the budget X30Cr13 with its conditional 50-52 HRC (according to impressions) this is a good result.

But here there is a second side - the fragility of the edge increases significantly, after a week chips already appear on it. Interestingly, here the chips somewhat increase the aggressiveness, which the knife with the Translucent Arkansas finish cannot boast of.

To what extent does editing on musat work well with hardening? He's a bad friend. After 2-3 cases of using the musat, with the restoration of the working sharpness of the knife, you can forget about any hardening effect. Until the next sharpening, which may not be soon.

Today, the most mysterious stone for me remains. The stone works quite delicately and every time I choose a stone for finishing, my hand itself bypasses it. This season I want to wait for the right opportunity, when I have knives from different steels at the same time, plus more time, and experiment with this stone - from grinding in Jasper to its place in the set.

I have long played enough with planing hair and cutting it while hanging, but it will be very interesting for me to choose a set so that, despite all the subtlety of Jasper’s work, the output will be acceptable aggressiveness.

Everyone Have a good day and sharp knives!

ZAT (Dnepr, Ukraine)

05 October 2019

Not because of what I do with my eyes spectral analysis metal, but simply because there are not so many options here. And I don’t quite understand the words about D2 itself on Chinese replicas.

So, if used, it is considered Chinese equivalent D2, then all the talk about American steel has no basis whatsoever.

Sharpening. India Kors did a good job with the rough roughing of the leads, and with the India Fine stone (already released in the Republic of Kazakhstan) it removed rather large risks from the previous stone. Then the work went noticeably faster - and the finish was achieved with a minimal increase in angle. I noticed that I like this stone more and more. Neither soft nor hard, very pleasant to work with and always pleases with the result.

The result is a sharp knife with a tasty aggressive cut and a final cutting thickness of 0.5-0.8 mm. By the way, the fit of the blade turned out to be quite good and the leads turned out to be almost symmetrical on both sides of the blade.

Yes, shooting in front of a window has both pros and cons... Focusing a lens on a mirror lens is not at all easy)) Let's return to the knife.

I note that the handle itself turned out to be comfortable and the knife fits well in the hand - see the photo above.

The Liner-lock was greased. After this, the flip mechanism is very easy.

The photo below shows the same surrounding landscape that is reflected on the elements of the Shirogorov F3 replica blade. By the way, trees protect very well from the summer heat. And now you can pick acorns from the window...

What did you keep silent about? I missed the point with the polished leads. Of course, the “mirror” cannot be obtained with either 1200 Boride or Brazilian shale. In this case, I use one of several options that I'm interested in this moment and for various reasons they are not entirely satisfied.

Whatever the case for a manicure instrument is made of, it will always remain relevant for nail service professionals. Usually few people pay attention to the covers themselves - they are used, sometimes praised, often scolded. It’s difficult to say whether there have been such studies at all - to what extent do manicurists and pedicurists associate the quality and convenience of covers for wire cutters and scissors with the quality and comfort of the tool that is in it?

Indeed, if a manufacturer is trying to sell a high-quality and easy-to-use tool, then he will also think about the case that almost always accompanies it.

In the photo in the header, on the right, there is a cover for ECLAT nail scissors. By the way, this tool is written in great detail and interestingly in a selection of articles about, which has been collected over many years in the Blog about Sharpening. Despite the simplicity of this case, I was quite surprised when I noticed that the scissors did not fall out of it by themselves - i.e. it fulfills its role quite well, although it is made of what seems to be a very simple and unlikely to last (this is just my guess) material.

On the right in the top photo are leather cases from the STALEX company. Be sure to read the information about this tool that is always available. This case is well known to all nail technicians who use STALEX nail clippers - if handled carefully, it lasts for the entire service life of the tool, and it itself quite reliably and in all cases protects the blades of the nail clippers during storage and transportation.

In the photo above, and in principle this can be seen from the applied logos, instrument covers and are shown. I cannot say which of these cases came first. I assume that it was the leather case of the OLTON wire cutters. At least the first time I saw it was in 2009 or 10, while the case of AKUTO wire cutters made of thick leatherette was only in 2019.

I have already talked in detail about OLTON cases in the Blog about Sharpening, for example in "". I will only note that the pliers of the same name fit into the case developed by the manufacturer AKUTO with great difficulty.

How much you spend, not how much you earn, helps determine how satisfied you are with your life.

Researchers from the Greater Britain Office for National Statistics found that spending on hotels, restaurants and household furniture was linked to life satisfaction.

At the same time, insurance costs and Cell phones are not associated with a comfortable life.

But the Office notes that total spending and income matters less than personal circumstances when measuring life satisfaction.

Good health, marital status and economic activity have the greatest influence on a positive assessment of life satisfaction.

The study found that age also matters: young people have higher levels of life satisfaction than those over 40, but life satisfaction rises again in next years, decreasing only among 80-year-olds.

INCREASING INCOME

An important factor for the level of life satisfaction is living conditions.

In Britain, those who own their homes or have a mortgage rate their life satisfaction much higher than those who rent.

Households with dependent children are also more satisfied with life than those without children. we're talking about in the study.

While spending is generally more important than earnings, households with incomes between $31,000 and $57,000 would feel happier if their incomes increased.

Department of Statistics, which currently seeks to look beyond the official GDP measure to try to form a broader picture of the economy, said: "There is no evidence of a statistically significant relationship between disposable household income and overall life satisfaction after controlling for other characteristics [such as age, marriage and employment status]."

"You are more likely to have greater life satisfaction if you have more expenses, and expenses appear to matter more than household income in how people experience life satisfaction," the agency said.

HEALTH

Retirement also has a positive impact on Britons' life satisfaction.

At the same time, unemployment or disability has a significant negative impact, the study says.

Health has a greater impact on life satisfaction than any other characteristic in the analysis. The number of those who have poor health, but report their satisfaction with life, is 5.7 times less than those who have good health.

Health was also important factor during the last study in 2013. At the same time, marital status now plays a greater role in people’s life satisfaction than it did six years ago.

The Office of Statistics' findings are based on two separate studies: an annual population survey and a separate study of the impact of taxes and benefits.

While flipping through the pages of Aliexpress in search of joy, I came across this knife. The photographs showed every conceivable and inconceivable torture that could be applied to a knife. They repeatedly pierced a steel barrel with a knife, secured the blade and the Chinese jumped on the handle, chopped a decent piece of wood with a knife. Impressed. I was just thinking that I didn’t have enough of a knife that could cut through a thick branch and a small tree. Moreover, the issue of power for an outdoor knife was raised in discussions about my copy review. SwordFish fit my needs perfectly and that's why I ordered it.

Knife manufacturer - Ystart Industrial & trading Co.Ltd is a young Chinese company that has been producing knives for various purposes, designs and structures since 2008. The “trick” of this manufacturer is the use of steel, which is unconventional for the Chinese, in its products.
The blade of this knife is made of AUS-8A steel, which is distinguished by its ability to be finely sharpened. The company's assortment includes knives made of D-2 steel, which is famous for its wear resistance. Despite the high-quality steel, the design art is not up to par. The knives clearly lack ergonomics. If the blades look traditional and quite beautiful, but the handles are not easy to grip.
I have a small folder from this company, I have already reviewed it. Not only was this knife not given a name, but it also doesn’t have a model number. And it's called simply. This knife has one significant problem - thin liners that protrude above the handle pads and cut your hand when working.

Steel AUS-8A

Steel composition:

C 0.70-0.75%. Carbon is the most important element in steel; it increases its strength and gives the metal good hardness.

Mn 0.50%. Manganese is used at the steelmaking stage. Capable of increasing the hardness of steel. Various durable things are made from steels with a significant manganese content - rails, safes, and so on.

CR 13.00-14.50%. Chromium affects the ability of steel to harden, gives the alloy anti-corrosion properties and increases its wear resistance. Contained in stainless steel of any grade.

Mo 0.10...0.31%. Molybdenum is a silvery-white metal. used for the manufacture of special and high-speed steels. Molybdenum is a hard-melting element; it prevents the blade from becoming brittle and brittle, giving it the necessary rigidity and making it quite resistant to high temperatures.

V 0.10…0.26%. Vanadium is a greyish-white shiny metal with great hardness. It is used in the production of special grades of steel, including tool steel. It is responsible for elasticity and enhances the properties of chromium, making the metal inert to aggressive chemical environments.

NI 0.50%. Nickel increases the corrosion resistance of steel and can slightly increase strength.

Si 1.00%. Silicon increases the strength and wear resistance of steel. Like manganese, it makes steel more stable and reliable.

P 0.04%. Phosphorus is one of the harmful technological impurities in steels and alloys. Increasing its content even by a fraction of a percent, while increasing strength, simultaneously increases fragility. The harmful effects of phosphorus are especially pronounced at high carbon levels. The limits for phosphorus content as a technological impurity are 0.025...0.045%.

S 0.03%. Sulfur, like phosphorus, is a harmful technological impurity in steels and alloys. An increase in sulfur content significantly reduces the mechanical and physicochemical properties of steels, in particular, ductility, impact strength, abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance. The limits for sulfur content as a technological impurity are 0.035...0.06%.

8Cr13MoV, Gin-1, ATS-55, AUS-8A and 440C included in one group. Steels of this group are strong and wear-resistant. Among them, ATS-55 is the most susceptible to corrosion; and AUS-8A, due to its vanadium content, allows for better sharpening of a blade made from it, but at the same time it will hold an edge worse than others. 8Cr13MoV, due to its higher carbon content than AUS-8A, is harder, but more brittle because of this. Therefore, it can be considered a slightly lower level than AUS-8A. The 440C is the best of this group.
Cold Steel uses AUS-8, which has made this grade quite popular. Their hardening of this steel does not hold an edge as well as ATS-34, it is a little softer and perhaps a little stronger. AUS-8 is a competitor to steels such as ATS-55 and Gin-1. AUS-10 contains almost as much carbon as 440C, but slightly less chromium, so it resists corrosion a little less and is perhaps a little harder. It is a competitor to steel such as ATS-34. All three of these types of steel contain an admixture of vanadium (which is absent in the entire 440 series), which adds wear resistance to the metal and allows for very sharp sharpening.

Performance characteristics of the knife:
Length: 22.8 cm
Blade length: 11.2 cm
RK length: more than 10cm
Blade thickness: 4.8 mm
Material: AUS-8A steel
Handle material: Micarta
Weight: 255 g

As can be seen from the technical specifications, the knife has a severe blade thickness - almost 5 mm! And, since the knife is made from a single piece of metal, its weight is very impressive - a quarter of a kilogram.




The blade has a concave spine that smoothly turns into a false blade. Once again I want to draw your attention to the thickness of the knife.


The false blade has a wavy notch. This notch cannot serve as a saw or serrator, but it will be easier to clean the fish with its help.




The blade has blade slopes. Moreover, the reduction is quite thin - 0.8 mm. The cutting edge is made neatly.


On the sides of the blade is applied laser engraving. On the right is the steel grade AUS-8A, and on the left is the name of the manufacturer and an image of a swordfish. The swordfish has an Asian squint, which is quite funny. In fact, this fish has large round eyes.






The knife guard is made of steel, 8mm thick. The guard has sharp edges that can cause injury. You'll have to do some tweaking with your hands.

The handles are made of black and gray micarta. But, despite the capabilities of this material, Ustart’s designers did not in any way play with its beautiful layering. The handle has uniform curves. The section at the handle seemed a little thin to me. Due to the heavy weight of the knife, you want to hold on to something more voluminous. The handle linings are attached with glue (most likely with epoxy - the blade was slightly stained with something similar, which could only be wiped off with nail polish remover) and with rivets made of aluminum tubes. There is also a hole for a lanyard. It is not located on the axis of the handle.

After unpacking, I checked the sharpness of the blade. The knife cut paper and shaved the hair on his arm, but he did it sadly.
But, after a little fine-tuning and editing on the paste, a feature of the AUS-8A emerged - the ability to sharpen finely. To test the sharpness, I ran the blade along my hand and 5x3 cm of hair immediately separated from me. I didn't even feel anything. The blade became very sharp. It simply cuts the paper.


In the photo there are strips of paper with torn cuts - the knife cut it before editing. After editing, they could cut paper noodles.

Now let's move on to the sheath.
The sheath is made of not very thick and soft leather.


A leather strap with a button is used to secure the knife. The button is of high quality, not made of foil.


The strap is held on by two rivets. The suspension loop is also held on by these same rivets.


At the bottom of the sheath there are two holes through which the paracord is passed.


This is done to secure the sheath on the thigh - so that the knife does not dangle during active movement. I must say that this device is not without meaning - do not forget about the weight of the knife!
The scabbard is embossed with the US flag of Gone with the Wind and the inscription: “Brend, Walterboro S.C.” (Walterboro, South Carolina). I couldn't Google anything about this logo. Maybe there is someone among us who knows? I would like to understand what the Chinese are claiming.


The sheath has leather inserts to provide the required cross section for the blade.


As I already said, the sheath seemed too soft to me. For a powerful knife, I would prefer a Kydex sheath with a push-button blade lock. But, don’t forget that this knife costs $30 (that’s how much it cost me, taking into account the discount).

And finally, a photo in hand.

Well, why not an elven blade made of mithril?

Conclusion
Overall the knife is very good. The handle is a little thin, but I kind of got used to it while fiddling with it while writing the review. The center of gravity of the knife lies in the area of ​​the front rivet, just where the thumb and forefinger meet when gripping. The knife is heavy. But I took it for chopping. Sharp edges on the guard can be easily removed with a file, sandpaper or stone.
I did not focus on the customs issue in this review. To be honest, the knife only reached me because the customs officers didn’t notice it. I was very worried about this, but it passed. Whether those who decide to order it will be so lucky - I don’t know.
The knife meets the definition of a knife in many ways:
It has a guard, more than 5 mm, the thickness of the blade is 5 mm, the blade can be considered double-edged - closer to the tip and on the “saw” the upper slopes come to zero. The tip of the blade is located on the axis of the knife, drawn through the center of the rivets on the handle. The length of the blade is 112 mm, and the length of the RC is more than 100 mm.
I will only use this knife in the wilderness, where the police do not appear.