BlackJack question:

muzzleup · Feb 5, 2001

I just picked up a BlackJack model #1-7 with the leather washer handle. The knife is NIB. On one side of the blade it is marked "carbon steel". Does anyone know what kind of carbon steel these were made from?

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Ron,
Bremerton, Washington

[This message has been edited by muzzleup (edited 02-05-2001).]

Ravenn · Feb 5, 2001

Pup...
I have one called a California Clip...only seen one of them...bought it in '95 at a knife show in Ky..they were made of 01-76 carbon steel. I have never herd of it before, but it takes and holds an edge great.
it has a 5.5 " blade single brass guard, and a sambar stag handle. Sheath is sort of puny, but a great all around outdoor knife.
Ravenn..Still looking for a 5" drop point hunter...

Burke · Feb 5, 2001

Rumor also has it that many Blackjacks were made with 1095, when they were supposed to be A2 or 0176.

Bladeandbarrel · Feb 5, 2001

All A-2 Trailguides were A-2
No Chukkers were ever A-2
Many knives that were supposed to be 0170-6 are actually 1095.
Some knives marked 440A are 12C27, some knives marked 400 stainless are 420J.
CS-51 is actually 5160.
Not all knives recieved the cryo quench.
The heat treat on many Shining mountain Bowies and Fisk magnums Camps (440C) is all wrong...

yep, they lied to me too.

Ebbtide · Feb 6, 2001

A.L.,
I guess there is no way to tell which are the 'misrepresented' blades, is there?
That's a shame, I have an AWAC that arrived here about 1 1/2 - 2 years before they went belly up...It's outta the box sharp, but I haven't used it...
Care to hazard a guess?
I remain,
Ebbtide

Bladeandbarrel · Feb 6, 2001

AWAC blades were left-over from the Applegate-Fairbairn fighter blades after the Col. pulled his design for poor QC and other reasons...they are actually 12C27, although advertised as 440-A.

Danbo · Feb 7, 2001

12C27 would seem to me, to be a better alternative. Supposedly, it has a finer grain structure and takes a very good edge. Assuming the heat treat is correct.

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Danbo, soul brother of Rambo

Will Fennell · Feb 9, 2001

Danbo,
440A and 12C27 are very similar, practically speaking. Actually, the "numbers" for 440A are a little better looking than the Sandvik steel, but of course, that doesn't tell the whole story. My experience, after working for knife companies that make knives out of both steels, [BENCHMARK in the old days, and CAMILLUS now], I can't tell much difference between the two.

While on the subject, properly heat treated 420HC acts about the same also....

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Stay Sharp!
Will Fennell
Camillus Cutlery
www.camillusknives.com