420 HC vs. 154CM

[Kentucky Rifle]

Can someone please explain the differences and benefits of these two steels as they apply to EDC's?

Thanks,
KR

[shootist16]

Check out this page on steels:

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

I believe the general consensus will be that 154CM is the better steel. It holds an edge longer than the 420HC.

[Kentucky Rifle]

..on my new EDC. Maybe I should have gotten the "next step up", eh?

KR

[Kentucky Rifle]

And I like it. No "blade wiggle" and good lock-up. I like the EDC very much. When it got here, I lubed it with Militec-1 and wiped it down with a Marine Tuf-Cloth. My Sebenza is a very nice knife, but I found myself reluctant to use it on some things, thus the EDC purchase. I thought I had maybe bought a lemon as far as the 420 steel blade goes, however I e-mailed Darrell an he told me that this steel is "no problem" with Camillus' heat treating process. He told me to "just hit the edge with a ceramic stick once in a while and all will be fine". In fact, I am so impressed with my new EDC, I'm going to purchase the Talonite version. This really is a good knife. I'll post again after I determine the edge-holding of the 420J2 blade. By the way, if anyone has an experience with the EDC with the 420J2 blade, I'd appreciate reading about it.

Thanks,
KR

[Will Fennell]

KR,
The original CUDA EDC's are 420HC, not 420J2. There is pretty significant difference in the steel,....mainly additional carbon, allowing us to get the RC up to 58, and a pinch of vanadium for added wear resistance. I think you will find that our 420HC will significantly out perform your past experiences of imported knives in 420J2.

All current production standard EDC's now feature 154CM blades, which we consider yet another step up in performance.

Thanks for being a customer!

[Kentucky Rifle]

I think I've got a winner on my hands here. After cutting off a few hunks of corned beef when the wife wasn't looking, cutting some twine, and opening a few cardboard boxes, my new "EDC" still shaves hair off my arm. I'm very happy with this purchase because the knife operates so smoothly. NONE of the dreaded "blade-wiggle" when in the open position. That is the one thing that ruins a new knife purchase for me. I think everybody has something that is SO disappointing when they open a new knife, it ruins that "good feeling" that one always has when he/she gets a new folder. Blade-wiggle is mine.

Kentucky Rifle