420hc steel ???

[BLADECARVER]

it seems more and more production knives are sporting the 420hc steel. advertised as high carbon? how high are we talking? do they really mean well using 420? do they really believe in their hearts that they really should be using 420hc steel. or is this just another trend with these companies as to trade off quality to lessen the financial blow to their pockets while the retail prices still increase...:thumbdn:

 

[Alberta Ed]

I think highly of 420HC as heat treated by Buck. It's a good, tough, corrosion resistant steel which takes a very fine edge and is quite easy to sharpen.

 

[AcridSaint]

420* series steels are well known (and liked) for their stain resistance - a must for many production knives these days. 420HC is used in production knives because it's acceptable to the user and the bean counters. It's all a trade-off.

I'm sure if the consumer would accept a much cheaper steel, the companies would use it. I'm also sure that if they could get a better steel for the same (or less) money, they'd use that instead. Most companies aren't going to be able to justify CPM154 for mass production.

By the way, google searching 420hc carbon gives away the carbon content in the first link:
http://www.buckknives.com/technical_steel.php

.40-.50%
It also says that Bos heat treats it to 58RC.