420hc?

gull wing

gull wing

Joined
May 4, 2002
Messages
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How does 420HC steel compare with others like 440C, CPMS30V.
I see BUCK uses this steel.
 
420HC is a low end stainless steel used in low cost knives (or some badly overpriced knives). The common version of the Camilus ArcLite is in 420HC but it only costs $20. It's major advantage is that it's very corrosion resistant so it's used in diving knives where corrosion resistance is the overriding concern.

420HC is significantly inferior to 440C and far more inferior to 154CM, ATS34, D2, CPMS30V and other premium steels.
 
but dont discount it entirely, if heat-treated properly, like buck does, it can be a great steel, as you as you're ready to spend just a few minutes a week maintaining it and dont abuse the knife, it should be enough for the average knife user
 
gull wing,

steel choice can become important for many applications, but for much every day use, it is not something to worry about too much. Buck heat treats their 420 very well, as does Camillus. I've not used many knives from these companies, but take something like my SAK (before I lost it, GRR!) I would sharpen the blades and not need to touch them up again for a month. And this was with so-so freehand sharpening. I bet with my Edge pro an SAK would really shine.
 
My Buck 500 is easy to sharpen, but edge-retention isn't too good. Total crap it ain't, either.
 
I have a buck big sky skinner with...nutmeg handles I think. Anyways it has cut 100s of knots from some fishing rope my father in law found. He also skinned a fox tail and went through the bone with it, the edge is still good. The edge is fine, maybe needs to be lightly touched up, but hey, good enough for me.
 
I have several Buck knives in 420HC and find it to perform well. If I were judging the knives on steel snobbery I probably wouldn't have them. I think it does better than AUS6, and on par with AUS8 and ATS55. I don't think I'd trust it from anybody except Buck and possibly Camillus though. Paul Bos, who does the heat treatment protocol for Buck, knows how to gain peak performance. Provided the heat treat is proper, 440C should be a direct upgrade, and S30V is considered the state of the art.
 
BUCK's 420hc isn't bad at all. Nothing special but it is easy to maintain and takes a very nice edge. I would say that it performs similiar to 1095.
 
Is steel important?

No doubt, but so is the heat-treat.

A bad heat-treat can ruin a good steel, and a good heat-treat can render onto an "inferior" steel may well result in a blade that outperforms a "better" steel with sub-optimal treatment.

Dismissing a steel outright is a rather hard thing to do.

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
Kershaw's 420HC also is sharp as a razor.
and when you sharpen these types of steel, it's much easier to get a decent result
 
I think Caryola's comment is right on, unless you're a metal expert or use the pocket knife for abusive type work, I doubt most normal users would see a vast difference in metals.

Like most guys more is better, bigger burger, more horse power, better steel, but practically I know from personal experience most of the time it is what I want and not what I need. If you want a good general purpose knive the 420HC is a-ok.

I used my Buck knife with 420HC for daily use and haven't had a problem with it retaining a good edge. I've had several knives with various steels and find for my general purposes that the 420HC is compariable.

Good luck.
 
I have 420HC knives from Buck, Kershaw, and Knife Kits. They cut well and are easy to sharpen.
 
420HC is a great working knife steel, I've lost track of the number of knives I have with 420HC from Buck and many others and so far everything I've needed to cut the job got done just fine.
 
Don't confuse 420HC and 420J2. 420HC has around three times the carbon content, and as stated, can be heat treated to a decent hardness (mid-50s HRC). There are legitimate reasons for a maker to choose 420HC other than price, these being corrosion resistance and toughness. Edge-holding is inferior to most cutlery-grade steels, but it sharpens easily. It's really not a bad choice for a pocket knife that doesn't see hard use. It's a somewhat underrated steel, really.

Some companies refer to 420J2 as simply 420 series steel (you know who you are) apparently in hopes that people will think it's 420HC. That tells you something.
 
Droppoints said:
420HC is significantly inferior to 440C and far more inferior to 154CM, ATS34, D2, CPMS30V and other premium steels.
Click to expand...

420HC is significantly inferior in regards to wear resistance to those steels and also has a lower maximum and usual ran hardness. However it is much tougher, more ductile, easier to grind, has greater edge stability, and more corrosion resistance that those steels. It is a superior steel for some knives and an inferior steel for others, as in general are most steels. 420HC for example is used by Phil Wilson for his custom kitchen cutlery. These really are not low end or inferior knives.

-Cliff
 
Good info - the only knife I currently own in 420HC is also the newest; the Condor Jungle Bowie. I had my doubts about getting such a large blade in stainless but the price was right & a corrosion resistent "machete" is a good thing. I don't intend to pry with it but "toughness" is important - I wondered if there was a reason other than cost alone for them to choose this steel. Sounds like there is a good one.
 
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