Antonini 420 Steel vs Case Tru Sharp

[southernsteel]

Hello all.

Long time lurker of this forum and I have decided to register and create this thread as I cannot find this information in the places I have looked. Perhaps I might have missed it somewhere. Apologies if I did.

After looking around a bit I have decided on either a Antonini Old Bear or a Case Camo Caliber. This knife will just be a "would rather have something than nothing" sort of knife. Just a knife to throw into a pocket and will not care if it gets lost,stolen, or the blade ruined.

My question is about a straight comparison of the two steels. Would the Case's 420HC at HRC I think its 55/57(please correct me if I am wrong) be significantly better than the Antonini Aisi 420 at HRC 54/56?

Thank you in advance for the opinions given. I will say that these are the two knives that I have decided on. No interest in Opinel or other brands. I just want something to toss in the 5th/coin/watch pocket on my jeans. If my Svord Mini Peasants tang didn't poke me in the hip when sitting down, I would just be buying another one of those for a beater knife.

 

[brownshoe]

I'd go with Case, you'll appreciate the harder edge if it's to be a beater.

 

[Higgs Particle steel]

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[knarfeng]

Hello all.
My question is about a straight comparison of the two steels. Would the Case's 420HC at HRC I think its 55/57(please correct me if I am wrong) be significantly better than the Antonini Aisi 420 at HRC 54/56?

My honest opinion is that you would not notice the difference in every day performance due to a 1 point difference in hardness. It might show up in a side by side cutting test.

If there is a difference in performance, it would be more likely due to a difference in the blade geometry. Geometry actually has a major impact on cutting performance. More so than most people give credit for.

Note:
Case does not state the hardness of Tru Sharp on their web site.
AG Russel cites the hardness of Case Tru Sharp at 54-57 on his store web site.
That would be a 1/2 point difference between that an the Antonini. And you REALLY would not notice that.

I tend to trust information offered by AG.

 

[Planterz]

I'll echo what Frank said. My Opinel no.6 Carbone glides through cardboard boxes because of the blade geometry. It's so thin at the edge that even when the knife is dull, it's sharp. Even the no.7 and 8 cut cardboard well because of the grind, despite being thicker blades.

As for actual edge holding and hardness, you might notice the difference between the 2 steels in question, in favor of the Case. But the fact is that even a minimal difference, at this softness, means both will dull rather quickly with typical use, so much that it really won't matter. However, both will be easy to sharpen up again. A fine edge might be technically sharper, but if you go with a toothy edge (coarse grit stones) you might get better cutting performance until completely dull.

I know you said you're only interested in those 2 knives, but this is Bladeforums, and it's nearly impossible for people to refarin from giving other suggestions. Mine would be the Boker City Tool line. The 1 has a single blade, clip, and glass breaker. Adding layers adds tools like screwdrivers, can openers, etc (like a Swiss Army Knife). 12C27 steel is used in surgical scalpels because it can hold a very fine edge. On a pocket knife, that means you'll be able to get it extremely sharp, and it's easy to do. Of course, a SAK like a Victorinox Pioneer/Soldier is extremely handy to have on hand as well.

 

[southernsteel]

Thanks for all the replies.

While I am not a hardcore knife nut(more of a gun guy) I do understand where these two knives fall quality wise. I know it is hard not suggesting something else and even a bit odd(to a knife guy) that those two are the knives I am choosing between. So perhaps I should clarify why I chose them.

My Svord mini peasant is my EDC for when I am doing the farm/homestead or general outdoor tasks and chores. Love the fact I can reach into my pocket and one hand open and close it even with heavy gloves on. I have Mora Companions for game processing and for the times I need or feel like using a fixed blade knife.

Because I choose to carry a folder in the 5th pocket for any urban setting, the Svords tang doesn't allow me to carry that way. So I was considering getting a cheaper "in town" knife and boiled it down to those two.

My end game is a Spyderco Delica 4 for urban EDC. I am currently carrying a Kershaw Leek. While the knife basically rides in pocket exponentially more than I actually use it, I have realized that I am not a fan of the speedsafe action and while it will holds up just fine for how I have used it, I just feel the tip is a little too delicate.