535 BuckLock 2: 425Mod and 420HC in one Knife?

[Culprit99]

Here's a neat 535 BuckLock 2. This model ran from 1991 to 1994. As best I know, Buck mostly used 425Mod until 1992, then started using 420HC in 1993. I'm sure there was overlap as they used up existing stock, etc.

This is number 076 out of 100 Norfolk Southern RR knives. The main blade is date stamped 1991, the first year of this model. The secondary blade is stamped 1994, the last year of this model. Of course, this commemorative blade stamping could have been done in 1993 or something as they prepared to deliver the batch of 100 on time.

The two blades also have different finishes, but that could be due to the stamping process for the Norfolk Southern wording.

I realize there's probably no way to know for sure, but it's neat to ponder that this knife may have blades from my two favorite steels. I like to think I would be able to tell if they are different steels if I start sharpening them, but I would have to get after them on the stone harder than I want to on this old knife that looks to have been carried much, and used little. The edges look like they could possibly be untouched. In the 90's I would have been able to tell the difference between the two for sure because Buck 425M and 420HC were the only two steels I owned, and I sharpened aggressively as a younger man, and only owned one double sided stone. I've mellowed since then and use such a variety of stones, ceramics, strops, diamonds, etc. on several different steels that it may be hard to tell these days. But this knife isn't winning any mint condition awards so maybe if I get bored one day... We'll see.

It didn't come to me with the brown leather sheath.

Anyhow, I'm just sort of rambling and letting my mind wander a little. Thanks for listening.

Does anyone have another Norfolk Southern 535 - or any 535? I'd love to see pictures, especially if you have a mint one and better photography skills than a guy with an iPhone who's waiting on his computer to load while drinking his tea. LOL!

 

[jbmonkey]

I don't think anyone really could tell the difference between those two steels by sharpening. they'd be hardened similarly, and there chemical makeup is very close. I'd think they'd respond the same sharpening. all things being equal, course.

nice knife btw......

 

[Culprit99]

I don't think anyone really could tell the difference between those two steels by sharpening. they'd be hardened similarly, and there chemical makeup is very close. I'd think they'd respond the same sharpening. all things being equal, course.

nice knife btw......

They are very close indeed. I could tell the difference back in the 90's when all I owned was a 110, a 503, a 709 Yearling, and a 549 FishLocker. At least I thought I could - I was convinced of it - maybe still am? Maybe not. The 110 and 503 are 425M and the Yearling and FishLocker are 1994 420HC. It seemed to me back then that the 425M was harder to grind away material and the swarf was different. Even with the flex in the 420HC FishLocker, I could remove material noticeably easier on it and the Yearling than on the other two knives. With such a small sample size, it could have easily been variations in individual batches of steel and heat treat. Or blade size and geometry. Like you said, I'm sure there's no way anyone could tell for sure.

Knowing what I know now, maybe what I felt was due to the Vanadium of the 425M (not to be confused with the Vanadium Carbide in many of today's steels that necessitate diamond mediums). That seems to do something to the grain structure of 425M that gives it a difference from 420HC. I don't know what hardness Buck runs/ran those two steels at, but if they're the same, is it possible to feel a difference in grinding due to the grain structure - is that abrasion property possibly somewhat independent from how hardness tests are conducted? It's been a long time since my strength of materials and failure analysis classes when I had free reign of the SEM and I've brain-dumped a lot. But I do know that to this day, on more knives than my original 4, I still get a sharper, more refined edge on anything with 425M than I do on 420HC. But that's literally splitting hairs, whereas the best I can almost always do with 420HC is to just shave them off. Honestly, I'm not sure I ever split/whittled hairs with a 420HC blade.

Anyhow, the two are my favorite steels, probably more for nostalgia of knives given to me by dad and grandpa, but even now, those are the two I like to carry most and 425M sharpens up the best for me. I'm happy to have another one in the stable.

 

[Happy Hippo]

I always liked the Bucklocks but avoided spending money on them. This is until I met someone from whom I got an instant collection. Once I got bit by that, the gates opened. I have about 45 now, of which only 11 are 535s. I am sure people have many more in their collection than me but I thought just a year ago I'd have two. All my 535s have a 1991 date stamp except for the Sawbys, which have a 1988 stamp. 535s remind me of big canoe knives.

 

[DeSotoSky]

Same knife and markings.

 

[SoDak81]

I've got a handful of 80's 425m Bucks. The only users are 300 series and I love the edge I can get on the 425m steel on those little slip joint blades with the flat grind more than the hollow grind 420 300 series blades.