brand name blade material Index

[hamx-15]

Hi all.....
Any one of you know of a link to an Index so to help find blade material used in a particular blade.....

I mean a link to look up by model number...
So to see what material was used..... in that model blade...

Buck ??

Case ??

Any others....... ???

I only have two Bucks.... I've owned them for 20 years or better.....
Stayed away,due to hardness..... We know all about that.....
Now I've gained interest again,only to find out that the good ole 440c.
Doesn't seem to be used much any more.....
It appears they've mostly switched..... material...

With all the models Buck still turns out....
It's getting hard to know which steel is in which blade....
Even if knowing what years they swapped from the pretty much standard
use of 440c,I still wouldn't know what models were built when.....

I wasn't that studied in Buck models........

Now,for that matter I'd like to know if there is some Index,reference for Case also........

Any others also.......

Really mostly interested in being able to look up a model Buck,and read what material was in the blade.......
Thanks in advance for any input.......

 

[knarfeng]

Howdy,
I know of no master index to alloys in various maker's knives.
Most makers have a web site. And these days the majority of the better makers plainly identify what alloy they use in each of their models.

For current models, you can go to the Buck web site and check.
http://www.buckknives.com/
Be advised that some Buck styles are produced in more than one steel, so check the model number. Also, some of the Buck knives are imported. If you look at the "details" screen for each knife, there is a picture of the knife. If there is an American flag in the bottom corner of the picture, that model is US-made. If there is no flag, that model is imported. (side note: even the imported Buck that I bought was well made.)

I've not seen 440C from Buck for years.
Their current standard alloy is 420HC, takes an excellent edge, holds it reasonably well (not as well as the 440C) and is really easy to sharpen (WAY easier than 440C).

The other alloys I see Buck using are 154CM and S30V. Both of these are superior to 440C for edge retention. The 154CM is a bit better than the old 440C, and because of the shape of the blade it sharpens easier than the old 440C blades. S30V is said to be better than the 154CM for edge retention (Can't say from personal experience) and a fair bit harder to sharpen unless you are using diamond hones.

Can't help you too much with the Case. For the most part they use "Tru-Sharp", which is said to be on the order of 420HC, but Case does not heat treat it the same way Buck does and I find the Buck 420HC to hold an edge better than Case Tru-Sharp.

 

[hamx-15]

Ok....
That was a very good reply.....

Yeah I haven't even looked at Buck knives sense the early 80's.
What was being sold then was a manufacturing from the mid to late 70's.
Mainly due to the 440C being so hard.....
The availability of diamond hones back then were quite limited....
I gave up....on Buck.... I really liked the Buck design in general.
Most everything they turned out was aesthetically pleasing.
Not to mention,ergonomically functional,fitting well to the hand.
Simple,well built,and generally nice to handle.

However ..... !
Now that the turn out of diamond hones has gotten to a reasonable cost (kinda)..... and after having to resharpen,and resharpen,and resharpen.

I wished the Buck 440C was still to be found.......
The 440C it appears is still around but,that fact alone in itself,doesn't say much to me.
Except that the blade material is 440C.

The hardening process,tells the tale..... as far as I'm concerned.
All 440C's may be created equal,but other than a very good stainless,it's edge holding ability,relies on the cost being put out to harden the steel.

The way I see for the regular guy (not a sea diving type) the use of 440C is a waste of money,if you don't at least bring it up to the ole Buck hardness.....
There are plenty of good stainless compounds,that will take a fine edge.
Keeping that edge is paramount as to exemplifying why you spent your money on a particular steel.....

The reason....for the post was to try and find out the steel used in the older discontinued models.....
Any questions about the new blade material,in new models.....I'd assume could be easily answered.
Mostly now when it's stated that 440C is the blade material....
The details are cut short of stating the hardness of said 440C.......
I presume that is being done for a reason......

Up until just a few months ago.I had no idea that Buck had stopped turning out 440C model knife blades.
Up until then I felt comfortable knowing that if I ever wanted a real
hard steel....the ole Buck was ready to go.....
As it is however.... They seem to have already up and gone.

What brands that are anywhere near the so called main stream.
That are using 440C,obviously aren't in the same area as Buck used to be.
It's 440C alright.....But it's being used in the cheapest way to manufacture into a blade format as possible.
Meaning that mostly the 440C today....is not as well treated as the ole Bucks were.
The cumulative end result,is I don't need a soft 440C.
That's too good of a steel to be used and have to sharpen every day...
At the same time,I don't want anything harder than the ole Buck version 440C.... It was plenty hard enough....

There has to always be that snag,that hook,that special something about the exotics.......
Another great steel turn out....... The list goes on and on.....
The stainless where with all of 440C,is plenty good enough for me..
The rest is in the treating.....
Given there may be some steels that are as hard,but will take a finer edge than 440C....
However.....the fine edge is readily obtainable with 440C,as long as the hollow ground approach is used.
A well made hollow grind using 440C,can be down right scary.
Again though,now your talking cost in manufacturing.....

Desiring a hard 440C used in a plain edge drop point,not hollow ground,is near asking for torture.....
Sure you can get it sharp,just don't be in a hurry getting it there.

Do notice that as time dictates,and the arrival of newer steels.....
That the art applied to the blade shape,diminishes.....
It's as if with every new steel to come along,the blade is made with a lesser degree of machining....
As if to say this new steel doesn't need all that extra shaping...
After all it's the new .... Rp47bs-hm .... Yeah right.....
Yeah right..... and That's why God created retarded people.
So you'd have someone to sell your knives to.
Cut another corner,save a buck,and declare that you have the new deal.

Dam.... I think I'm getting close to starting a rant...
Please don't let me get started.
Thanks again for the reply.