420V, what to expect?

shootist16

shootist16

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I recently got a DDR EDC in 420V. (Try saying that three times fast
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). I have a Carson model 4 in 420V on the way. I haven't used the EDC yet. What can I expect from 420V? Is it tough or fragile? Stain resistant? Hold a great edge?

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Dennis Bible

....Almost here, The Leading Edge....
http://www.theleadingedgeonline.com
 
I think 420V is simply outstanding stuff. Takes a great edge and holds it nearly forever. No stain worries at all. I am a carbon steel knut, but if you have to have a stain resistant blade, it will be hard to find a better material than 420V. Enjoy those new knives Dennis!
 
it is a VERY good material......but you can expect some edge chipping when you cut something thats hard (like hitting bone when cleaning game) and it is VERY hard to sharpen, even for someone who has a variable speed 2x72 grinder.....the stuff REALLY resists wear!!!!!!!
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What hardness are Darrel and Kit saying they're using, Dennis? I know most 440V is going out around Rc56, but assume/hope that the 420V is a bit harder.

Am assuming also that you're now in the diamond sharpening business?

I gotta write to you and get your take on my crazy Sebenza business soon.

Dave
 
I'm not sure how hard they are taking it. I would like to find out though.

So is it safe to say that it is very stain resistant, holds an edge like it is going out of style, a real bear to sharpen, but fairly fragile?

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Dennis Bible

....Almost here, The Leading Edge....
http://www.theleadingedgeonline.com
 
Phil Wilson says 420V has about the same toughness as BG42 at like RC hardness, with up to 50% better edge retention over BG42. Phil has had a lot of experience and success with CPM steels, as reported in his articles in Knives Illustrated. He made and did the heat treat on Cliff Stamp's utility/hunter 10V test blade and has made competition CPM blades for Crucible representatives.

As a point of reference to 154CM, Bob Loveless has said that BG42 has an increased edge life over ATS34/154CM of 5-10%, with comparable toughness.

Kit puts his 420V folder blades at about 58 HRC, I believe, and I think Darrel Ralph may leave 420V a point softer. RJ Martin typically leaves 420V a point harder at 59 HRC in small blades. I don't think either Kit or Darrel uses cryo on 420V--seems to be some question as to Crucible's recommendations on the subject vs. different knifemakers' experience.
 
I have a DDR EDC in 420V. . . Awesome blade material !
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Sharper than hell. . .retains it's edge for what seems like forever.

But. . .super hard to resharpen. Maybe that's why they made it with the edge capability that almost lasts forever.
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Livin' Life ~ Full Throttle
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Dennis,
Both of my 420V knives are from DDR, and the EDC has seen the most use, so I'll just talk about it.

I haven't seen anything to make me believe 420V is fragile. I don't give the knife any special treatment, except for not cutting wiring or prying with it (stuff it shouldn't be doing anyway). Only time it's chipped was from the edge impacting the corner of a steel table I was working at.

I've had no problems with rust, even though I work in a hot, humid environment that contains alot of corrosives. The knife gets covered in grit, soaked in sweat, and all I do is rinse it in tap water, or blow it out with compressed air. I give it a blast of WD-40 every couple of days, and lube the pivot once a week or so.

It holds an edge well. I haven't tested them side by side or anything, but my impression from "use-between-sharpenings" is that it holds an edge about three times as well as the ATS-34 knives I've used. It's hard to reprofile. Not that hard to touch up. Only takes a minute. I use a Spyderco Sharpmaker, and use the corners of the white stones.

Like Will York said, Rc is around 57.

I could probably type another page about it, but time just ran out, and I gotta go
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Any word as to when a factory knife will be made from this?

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Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
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Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
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I would not say that 420V is fragile. I don't remember the Charpy figures for it, but I believe it is tougher than ATS-34, which is a pretty good steel when heat treated right.

My experience with 420V, which has been all Darrel Ralph blades, is that it is surprisingly tough for a stainless.

Hey, it's easy to sharpen. It never gets dull!
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My Buck Nighthawk is made from 420HC steel. Is this the same, or close to the 420V steel?

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
<A HREF="mailto:glockman99@hotmail.com
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[This message has been edited by glockman99 (edited 06-18-2001).]
 
I have a DDR arc Lite. Have used it hard and have carried it since Oct. last year. Have not seen it chip at all. I have even thinned out the edge quite a bit from what DDR had on it. Holds a great edge and no problem with corrosion at all. Damn fine stainless steal in my opinion.
 
As far as the difference between 420V and 420anythingelse, the confusion was partly to blame for Crucible changing the name of 420V to S90V. Suffice to say, some of the top custom makers in the world are using 420V, none are using 420anythingelse. 420V has the added benefit of 3 to 4 times the carbon content of 420HC and around 10% vanadium content (not sure exact figure). This results in a steel with wear resistance that 420HC can only dream about.

The only example of 420V that I have had were a couple of EDC's from Darrel. No staining problems whatsoever. Have to agree with everyone else though, good thing the stuff holds a great edge because you wouldn't want to sharpen it very much. I find myself needing to take 2 to 3 times as many licks per stone on my Sharpmaker as with most other blades. And this is on a knife with a relatively thin edge geometry. A thick edge bevel on a blade made of 420V would effectively eliminate the Sharpmaker as a alternative. Reprofiling or serious sharpening required a diamond hone for best results. To obtain a fantastic edge on my DDR's, I first slightly thinned the edge with a medium Lansky diamond stone and then used the Sharpmaker to finish. This steel will take a very fine edge, just may take awhile to get it.
 
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