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AUS-8 vs VG10 vs AUS-10 on Kanngou Knives
By Grace Kelly Published
Kanngou Featured parents name steel grades on the title or product page. Treat those as shop-page steel notes. This guide maps which blades use AUS-8, VG10, or AUS-10, without Rockwell hardness or edge-life scores. Pick the job first, then read the steel on that exact knife.
Steel roster by parent
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| Steel note | Featured parents | Notes from titles |
|---|---|---|
| AUS-8 | 8.27" AUS-8 Gyuto, 7" AUS-8 Kiritsuke, 7" Black Forged Santoku, 5" Paring / Petty, AUS-8 | Everyday stainless workhorse language; non-Damascus value tier on the gyuto |
| VG10 | 8.27" VG10 Damascus Gyuto | Damascus patterning over a VG10 core; longer chef length |
| AUS-10 | 7" Damascus Nakiri, AUS-10, 3PCS Damascus Set, AUS-10 | 67-layer Damascus over an AUS-10 core on the nakiri product page |
What VG10 Damascus adds
The 8.27" VG10 Damascus Gyuto (8.27 in / 210 mm) is the long chef centerpiece when you want Damascus patterning with a named VG10 core. Gyuto geometry covers rocking cuts and longer slices better than a nakiri. Compare against the AUS-8 8.27" gyuto when you prefer a simpler non-Damascus everyday steel. Wipe and dry after citrus boards so patterning stays bright.
What AUS-8 covers
AUS-8 shows up across everyday singles: the 8.27" AUS-8 Gyuto for daily chopping and slicing, the 7" AUS-8 Kiritsuke for an angled tip profile, plus black forged santoku and petty parents. Choose AUS-8 when clear everyday steel naming matters more than Damascus aesthetics. The 5" Paring / Petty, AUS-8 handles detail work the longer blades leave behind.
What AUS-10 Damascus covers
The 7" Damascus Nakiri, AUS-10 pairs a vegetable-cleaver profile with 67-layer Damascus over an AUS-10 core. Damascus patterning is cosmetic over the core: compare steel grade and blade length, not layer count alone. Full-tang ebony handle language and gift-box packaging make it a strong single-knife gift. The 3PCS Damascus set also carries AUS-10 language for a starter trio.
How to choose by job and steel
- Pick the job first (gyuto length, kiritsuke tip, nakiri vegetables, petty detail).
- Read the steel note on that exact parent.
- Treat Damascus layer counts as cosmetic over the named core.
- Follow hand-wash cues unless the product page clearly says otherwise.
- Store the edge so it does not touch other metal in a drawer.
Everyday pairing examples
- Weeknight board with one mid-length multipurpose knife: AUS-8 santoku or AUS-8 gyuto.
- Long roast carving and rocking chops: 8.27" VG10 Damascus gyuto or 8.27" AUS-8 gyuto.
- Produce-heavy prep days: AUS-10 Damascus nakiri, with a petty for trim work.
- Gift box for a cook who already owns a gyuto: Damascus nakiri as the vegetable specialist.
Steel grade is only one axis. Length and profile still decide whether the knife meets the board the way you cook. Confirm edge and handle notes on the shop page for the parent you buy, then hand-wash and dry promptly after board work.
Compare profiles in the Kanngou review hub and the knife chooser.