The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
I have used and own all sorts of stuff. 420hc is proven and reliable. Its not s30v but it has its place in the knife world and maybe used long after some of our newest coolest steels are forgotten and replaced by newer cooler steels.
Also depends on the cost of the knife too. At the typical Buck price range it's good. When I see a knife close to, or higher, than $100 in 420HC I am put off by it.
This is it in a nutshell. I won't spend over $50 for a knife that uses 420HC for its blade steel.
- Christian
If there is a high quality good heat treat and resonable hardness
What is the difference between 1095 and 420HC?
They are both dirt cheap to produce
I like knives that I can sharpen on the bottom of a coffee cup or a stone in the woods..... If I need special tools to get it sharp, it's not the knife for me. I see nothing wrong with a Buck knife so nothing wrong with 420HC. I think heat treat is more important for my uses. As far as on a high end knife? I think fit, finish, handles, grinds, and overall execution are what makes a knife go up in price more so that the steel used.
Haven't tried Bucks 420HC, but I cannot imagine that it is THAT much better.
I'll take AUS8,1095 or any of the Sandviks over 420HC any day of the week