[Iain]

Apologies for the newbie question.

AUS-6, hardness 53-55HRC

That ok for a frame lock knife?

[Navy joe]

Steel and hardness condition sound a little low end. While not a stainless fan AUS-8A and AUS-10 have worked great for me, but maybe that is how Spyderco turns out the finished product.

Look for 57-59 in folder is my take, and a better steel.

[mete]

AUS-6 is a jap steel similar to our 440A , not the best steel for a knife because of low carbon content therefore doesn't hold an edge all that well. Really good blade steels are types like AUS-8, ATS-34,154CM,BG42, S30V.

[coldshot03/04]

Carbon V is better.

[Soap]

http://www.bladeforums.com/features/faqsteel.shtml

[Joe Talmadge]

There is what I hope is a much better version of the Steel FAQ here:

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=group:rec.knives+insubject:Steel+insubject:FAQ+author:Joe+author:Talmadge&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&as_drrb=b&as_mind=12&as_minm=6&as_miny=2003&as_maxd=31&as_maxm=7&as_maxy=2003&selm=s28Ka.11148%24Fy6.4368%40sccrnsc03&rnum=1