Blade Steel

not really good, excepted that it is quite rust resistant as far as i know.
if you could find better, take something else.
If the knife is quite cheap, it's OK...:)
 
If it's a Buck, then it's okay. For primary cutting purpose, it really is something down the line compared to current stainless. Fallkniven uses 420 to sandwich the hard VG-10 core.
 
It really depends on how your going to use it. If you just pop it out on occasion for light cutting....it's fine. If you use it hard and everyday then I'd say no. There are many more blade steels that aren't much more expensive that will hold a pretty good edge and are pretty good at holding off rust. Just my opinion, but the 440 series(preferably 440C) and Sandvik 13C26 is were " decent " steels begin........then it's just up from there, such as S30V, VG-10 and so on.

As far as ups and downs for 420HC.... The upside is it is pretty cheap and quite rust resistant . The downside is it is pretty cheap and soft.
 
A knife that has 420HC would not be my first choice for any application. There are so many companies that make a good knife with a better steel for reasonable prices.
 
I've not tried Buck's new 420HC with their optimized cutting geometry and top of the line heat treat. (All my Buck knives predate Buck's change to 420HC.)

Judging from a lot of the threads, Buck does a very good job with 420HC. Like Nimravus Nut, I'm not sure that I would want a 420HC blade from anyone else. Too many companies give 420HC a poor heat treat, and with a poor heat treat, it really does not hold an edge well.
 
Buck puts out the best 420 knives I have ever messed with. With the exception of Buck products I dont buy knives made of 420 stainless.
 
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