Buck's 420HC vs 8CR13MoV

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manowar669

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I'm looking at the Buck Vantage with their 420HC. I have a Kershaw with the chinese steel. Is the Buck a step up, or worse? Do all of the Buck S30V models have the Bos heat treat? (If I want to get the higher end S30V model, I had a Buck/Mayo TNT years ago, but didn't like tip down carry and sold it, otherwise a super knife).
 
I have to say, the 420HC from Buck has not disappointed me. After whittling wood or the plastic handle of my Svord Peasant, the 420HC still is push cutting paper. It is better than the Victorinox Inox for sure. Dunno about 8CR13MoV.
 
It depends on how hard they are at the end of heat treating.

If hardened to the same hardness, 8Cr13MoV will hold an edge better than 420HC.

However, Buck does harden 420HC to ~58-59. A lot of 8Cr13MoV is not that hard.
I do not know what hardness spec Kershaw sets for their Chinese suppliers.
So I can't actually answer the question as to which will hold an edge better.

As to Bos heat treat. Paul Bos developed the heat treat schedules for their production alloys. He oversaw the installation of the equipment in Idaho (And I would bet he selected it.) He trained the heat treating staff. So, while Paul Bos himself is actually retired, you still get the Paul Bos heat treat on Buck knives.
 
knarfeng said:
It depends on how hard they are at the end of heat treating.

If hardened to the same hardness, 8Cr13MoV will hold an edge better than 420HC.

However, Buck does harden 420HC to ~58-59. A lot of 8Cr13MoV is not that hard.
I do not know what hardness spec Kershaw sets for their Chinese suppliers.
So I can't actually answer the question as to which will hold an edge better.

As to Bos heat treat. Paul Bos developed the heat treat schedules for their production alloys. He oversaw the installation of the equipment in Idaho (And I would bet he selected it.) He trained the heat treating staff. So, while Paul Bos himself is actually retired, you still get the Paul Bos heat treat on Buck knives.
Click to expand...

Good to know. Thanks!
 
I like Bucks 420hc and my big folders like Spyderco/Kershaw are 8cr13mov. The capabilities of both seem to be a tie in edge wear. Both fall into the 58-59 Rockwell range and sharpen easily with just a stone too.

Best of all, for the price you can afford to buy lots of both.
 
dogstar said:
I have to say, the 420HC from Buck has not disappointed me. After whittling wood or the plastic handle of my Svord Peasant, the 420HC still is push cutting paper. It is better than the Victorinox Inox for sure. Dunno about 8CR13MoV.
Click to expand...

i've had a very similar experience from yours, with bucks 420hc, but i also find 8cr13mov done right to do as well. i find kershaw and spydercos versions of 8cr13mov to hold an edge equal to and better than bucks 420hc. with tasks including cutting down dead and live palm fronds, cutting cardboard boxes like soda 12 packs to fold them down to take up less trash space, whittling live/water oak hybrid branches and cypress wood, cutting cat claw and potato vines, etc. mind you there is no science testing involved just my own perception. that said, to me if heat treated well, they are close enough to equals, to me. both are good for every day cutting tasks and easy to sharpen.

kind of a non-issue to me, both sharpen up easily and hold an edge well enough for my normal cutting tasks. so i don't shy from buying knives made of either one.
 
Kershaw's 8cr isn't bad. Sharpens up easily and holds it ok. Buck's 420hc is good too. I imagine you'd have to do a side by side comparison of blades with similar edge geometry to really see the difference.
 
I have a Buck Bantam and I must say it’s edge holding is kinda disappointing. Normally Bucks hold a great edge even without the Bos heat treat but my Bantam dulls quite easily. When sharpening it on my Spyderco ceramic stone it feels kinda soft. I’ve got Kershaws in 8cr13mov that hold a better edge.
 
I've used both Buck knives and Kershaw knives (420HC and 8cr13mov respectively) to field dress and partially butcher multiple deer. IMO the Buck has done better with regards to edge retention.
 
this threads from 2012 sweet revive

I'd say bos 420hc is better than most 8cr13mov. however iirc older Byrd cara cara has 8cr13mov ht to 60hrc give or take. not sure if that holds true today or not.
 
Bucks 420hc is awesome, plus it's all American and you gotta love that.

I've only had 1 8cr Kershaw , but based on my 5 american made Buck's I have no need to buy a Chinese Kershaw for similar money.

For me USA always wins out over CHINA no matter what, but I've had one and witnessed 2 bad Chinese Kershaw experiences and nothing but good from Buck.
 
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I have several Bucks in 420HC (including the Vantage) and Kershaw in 8Cr13MoV (LOVE their new Fraxion). Both are fine steels. IMHO the 420HC holds its edge a wee bit better, but the 8Cr13MoV is easier to sharpen. IMHO can't really go wrong with either.
Rich
 
In terms of potential Buck 420HC has pretty much reached the limits of the 420HC steel's potential and it doesn't quite hold as much potential in theory as 8Cr13MoV however my experience with Kershaw 8Cr13MoV was disappointing I don't feel it compares to Buck 420HC however I do find my CRKT 8Cr14MoV, not sure the difference in 13 and 14, is a good blade at least on par with my experience with Buck 420HC. I would probably say it performs better but I still kind of prefer the buck 420HC over the CRKT 8Cr14MoV.
 
Mo2 said:
this threads from 2012 sweet revive

I'd say bos 420hc is better than most 8cr13mov. however iirc older Byrd cara cara has 8cr13mov ht to 60hrc give or take. not sure if that holds true today or not.
Click to expand...

Not surprising at all. 20 years from now, anything about Buck will still be relevant. It is just what it is.
 
Buck does a good job with their ht. I picked up a Bantam BHW a couple weeks ago. I can’t argue with a USA made blade for $16.
 
PirateSeulb said:
it doesn't quite hold as much potential in theory as 8Cr13MoV however my experience with Kershaw 8Cr13MoV was disappointing I don't feel it compares to Buck 420HC however
Click to expand...

Kershaw 8Cr13MoV had poor apex stability for me... While slicing thin cardboard! 420 for me has always been acceptable, if better performing from Taiwan than China.

Gaston
 
I have a Buck Slimline (Walmart Spitfire) and I am surprised at how sharp I can get it, and it does hold it's edge for a long time. Combared to Case's stainless and Victorinox, Buck's 420 is way ahead from my experience.
 
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