400 Series Stainless

Kwon Kwang · Oct 16, 2015

Hi, everyone!

Wow, it has been too long since I've been on BF. So, I've got an original Black Bear Classic in "400 series stainless" with that wonderful old leather sheath. I truly love this knife and had been obsessing over it for a long time before I got my hands on it. Thing is, I'd really like to know more about this steel. Is it like the "420 sub zero quench" used in the old Spike series or is it another steel entirely?

What I'd really like to know is if anyone else around here has any experience using this steel. How's the edge retention and toughness? How does it sharpen? Rust resistance? The edges on my Black Bear are definitely not as sharp as I'd like them, and I'd like to give this thing a few strokes on my Sharpmaker to get it up to par. Anyone else done this with a Cold Steel "400 series stainless" knife?

KenHash · Oct 16, 2015

In the 1995 cold steel catalog which I believe is the first time the 14BBC appears as a "400 stainless steel made in Taiwan" knife it states that the steel is imported from Japan. And in the technical specs it states "Aus8A".
So I don't think it is 420 sub zero quenched or otherwise.

JTC · Oct 19, 2015

I'm interested to know more about 400 series stainless as well. I have a r1 n that steel but don't know much about the steel in it.

Kwon Kwang · Oct 20, 2015

KenHash said:
In the 1995 cold steel catalog which I believe is the first time the 14BBC appears as a "400 stainless steel made in Taiwan" knife it states that the steel is imported from Japan. And in the technical specs it states "Aus8A".
So I don't think it is 420 sub zero quenched or otherwise.

Yeah, I've heard before that it's just 8A, which would be a relief to me. It's a good steel and CS really knows what they're doing with it.

KenHash · Oct 20, 2015

JTC said:
I'm interested to know more about 400 series stainless as well. I have a r1 n that steel but don't know much about the steel in it.

The 14R1 and the 14BBC were bpth originallt made in Taiwan. In the case of the R1 it appears in the 1993 catalog as 400 Series Stainless
and in 1995 it is described as Aus8A. In 2000 the production changed to Seki. Like the BBC, I think it's a fair assumtption that any Taiwan made R1 that says "400 Series.." is actually Aus8.

Insipid Moniker · Oct 20, 2015

Might the 400 series stainless be a descriptor of the guard and subhilt not the blade? Just throwing it out there.

JTC · Oct 20, 2015

Insipid Moniker said:
Might the 400 series stainless be a descriptor of the guard and subhilt not the blade? Just throwing it out there.

I remember reading I think in Cold Steels ads the guards were 300 series stainless. I don't remember seeing the guard mentioned as 400. But who knows.
I do hope that the aus8 thoughts are correct.

KenHash · Oct 20, 2015

Insipid Moniker said:
Might the 400 series stainless be a descriptor of the guard and subhilt not the blade? Just throwing it out there.

The ones that were "400 Series Stainless" had that written on the blade or on the ricasso. Only in the catalog was "Aus8A" mentioned in the knife's specs, where it also says the guard was "300 Series Stainless".