Buck 371 steel

G

Giuliano

Joined
May 24, 2007
Messages
45
What steel is used in 371s ?
I've seen references to 420J2, 420HC and 440C being used but can any of you folks say with certainty which one of these is used please?
Thanks.
 
Giul, Welcome. The knives made under the foreign contract, which I'm thinking is the case with a 371. Carry/use the closest steel they can get to 420hc. Which is 420J2. Maybe even a modified version of that steel. Whereas 440C is a different animal and has long since been discontinued. Except recently Buck used it in making a limited edition 110. These are not to be confused as they are very different steels. DM
 
David Martin said:
Giul, Welcome. The knives made under the foreign contract, which I'm thinking is the case with a 371. Carry/use the closest steel they can get to 420hc. Which is 420J2. Maybe even a modified version of that steel. Whereas 440C is a different animal and has long since been discontinued. Except recently Buck used it in making a limited edition 110. These are not to be confused as they are very different steels. DM
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Thank you David
I ask as I'm considering buying a new Buck stockman .I've handled both the 301 and the 371 and I consider the China made 371 to have a better finish and fit but it has 420J2 steel whereas the USA made 301 uses 420HC .Opinion on various web sites generally is that 420J2 isn't very good with a low Rockwell score .Is this 420J2 that Buck use better than that used by other makers .I mean for example does it undergo better heat treatment ?
 
You can read anything on the internet that may not be true. On this site concerning Buck the gents know. As far as these two steels; I've sharpened them and used them some on the knives you mention. They seem sound to me. I don't know the particulars of the heat treat process on the foreign contract blades like we know about those coming out of the Buck plant. So, we're regulated to experience. Others here
have more experience using this model. The 420HC heat treat in Buck's plant is given a cryogenic cycle/ soak. This greatly enhances the steels wear resistance. Still, if you like the other one, purchase it as I don't think you'll go wrong. DM
 
Giuliano said:
What steel is used in 371s ?
I've seen references to 420J2, 420HC and 440C being used but can any of you folks say with certainty which one of these is used please?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

I've seen the ChinaBuck pocket knives listed in both 420HC and 420J2. A quick check of the catalogs verified this. In 2006 the 371 is listed as 420HC and in the 2013 catalog it is listed as 420J2. 420J2 has a lower carbon content than 420HC so it comes up a couple points lower on the rockwell scale. That information would suggest that if you want a 371 with 420HC, look for one with the older yellow/black box with the silver band. There are no guarantees though what you actually get. I've seen a number of the counterfit Bucks listed as having 440 but don't believe legitimate ChinaBucks use it. I collect both the USA and China 300 series slipjoints so have a lot to compare but wouldn't say the China version is better. Nothing to complain about the China version but think overall the USA version is a touch better. It's opinion and individual samples will vary.
 
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FWIW I've got Buck slipjoints in 420HC and J2. For all intents and purposes the difference between the two steels, (at least the way Buck sources, specs and or heat treats it) is indiscernible to me. They both work well for me.
 
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