AUS10 vs 10Cr15CoMoV
AUS10 and 10Cr15CoMoV side by side: what the data sheets say, and what the survey says. AUS10 is stated in 283 listings from 39 brands, 10Cr15CoMoV in 462 from 15. The median damascus chef knife in the United States is listed at $229 with AUS10 and $67 with 10Cr15CoMoV.
The data sheets
| AUS10 | 10Cr15CoMoV | |
|---|---|---|
| Family | stainless steel | stainless steel |
| Data sheet | Aichi Steel | GB standard |
| C % | 0.95-1.10 | 0.95-1.05 |
| Cr % | 13.0-14.5 | 14.5-15.5 |
| Mo % | 0.10-0.31 | 0.8-1.2 |
| V % | 0.10-0.27 | 0.1-0.3 |
| Co % | – | 1.3-1.8 |
| Usual hardness (HRC) | 58-60 | 58-61 |
| Listings in the survey | 283 | 462 |
| Brands | 39 | 15 |
| Share of all listings | 4 % | 7 % |
| Listings that state the layers | 71 % | 81 % |
| Median chef knife, United States | $229 | $67 |
Nominal composition in % by mass from the steelmakers' data sheets or the published standard. Hardness: usual range stated for kitchen knives.
What the difference means in use
Carbon is about the same in both (around 1 %), so neither has a built-in advantage in attainable hardness.
10Cr15CoMoV has more chromium (14.5-15.5 % against 13.0-14.5 %), which gives it a small margin against stains. Both are stainless in kitchen use: wash, dry, and neither will rust.
10Cr15CoMoV contains cobalt and AUS10 does not. Cobalt helps the steel reach its hardness in heat treatment; you will not feel it on the board.
10Cr15CoMoV has more molybdenum, which adds a little wear resistance and corrosion resistance.
Usual hardness is 58-60 HRC for AUS10 and 58-61 for 10Cr15CoMoV. One or two points do not change daily cooking; three or more do.
In the survey a chef knife in AUS10 costs 242 % more at the median than one in 10Cr15CoMoV ($229 against $67, United States). That gap also reflects the brands that use each steel, not only the steel.
How to choose: the two are close. Prefer the knife whose listing states its hardness and layer count, and check the price against the median for its type.
Chef knife prices, United States
Median price by knife type
United States
| Type | AUS10 | n | 10Cr15CoMoV | n |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damascus chef knife | $229 | 59 | $67 | 53 |
| Damascus santoku | $198 | 30 | $98 | 25 |
| Damascus nakiri | $189 | 17 | $92 | 24 |
| Damascus utility knife | $124 | 6 | $56 | 25 |
| Damascus paring knife | $99 | 7 | $69 | 17 |
| Damascus slicing knife | $250 | 25 | $99 | 7 |
| Damascus bread knife | $105 | 4 | $89 | 20 |
| Damascus kiritsuke | $194 | 6 | $46 | 12 |
| Damascus bunka | $249 | 5 | $33 | 7 |
| Damascus cleaver | $140 | 7 | $99 | 12 |
| Damascus boning knife | $88 | 4 | $78 | 10 |
| Damascus knife set | $229 | 21 | $195 | 28 |
Best-scoring chef knives in each steel
AUS10
| # | Knife | Brand | Core steel | Price | vs median | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | XINZUO 8 Inches 67 Layers Japanese AUS-10 Damascus Steel Chef Knife Jiang Seri8" · 67 layersP 39 · S 25 · L 10 · F 20 | Xinzuo | AUS10 | $109.99 | -47 % | 94 |
| 2 | Chef's Knife 8" | Shogun Series | Elite8" · 66 layersP 35 · S 25 · L 10 · F 20 | Dalstrong | AUS10 | $129 | -38 % | 90 |
| 3 | Epokishi AUS-10 Gyuto8" · 67 layersP 31 · S 25 · L 10 · F 20 | Seido Knives | AUS10 | $149 | -28 % | 86 |
10Cr15CoMoV
| # | Knife | Brand | Core steel | Price | vs median | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHAN ZU INFERNO | 8" Forged Black Damascus Chef Knife8" · 67 layersP 40 · S 25 · L 10 · F 20 | Shan Zu | 10Cr15CoMoV | $66.99 | -68 % | 95 |
| 2 | Marea · Damascus Chef Knife 8"7.9" · 67 layersP 40 · S 25 · L 10 · F 20 | Damascus Knife | 10Cr15CoMoV | $99 | -52 % | 95 |
| 3 | XINZUO PM8 Series 67 Layers Damascus Powder Steel Sakumira Knife 8.5 inches8.5" · 67 layersP 40 · S 25 · L 10 · F 20 | Xinzuo | 10Cr15CoMoV | $99.99 | -52 % | 95 |
Questions
Is AUS10 better than 10Cr15CoMoV?
They are close. 10Cr15CoMoV has slightly more chromium; in daily cooking the knife's heat treatment and grind matter more than that difference.
Which is cheaper, AUS10 or 10Cr15CoMoV?
In the survey of 14 November 2026, the median chef knife in the United States is $67 in 10Cr15CoMoV and $229 in AUS10: 10Cr15CoMoV is the cheaper one by 242 %.
Which is easier to sharpen?
They sharpen alike: same carbon, same hardness range.