Buck 420HC?

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wackafew

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A few days back, I was reading another thread on Blade Forum discussing steels. An older gentleman with many years of experience hunting deer mentioned 420HC wasn't worth a darn at holding an edge when field dressing. Half way thru he would have to stop and sharpen his blade. He mentioned super steels were the only way to go.

So being kind of an older fella myself, and an avid deer hunter, I've used Buck's 420HC and found it to be fairly decent at holding an edge and field dressing deer. I know super steels are better at holding an edge, but my Bucks in 420HC seem to perform responsibly well. It also takes a very keen edge and is easy to touch up when it does need to be sharpened.

Not trying to compare Buck's 420HC to some of the super steels out there, just wondering how others feel about Buck's 420HC?
 
I don't think the super steels are worth the premium price, at least not in my budget. For me, Buck hit the sweet spot of cost versus performance.
 
I am a fan of Buck and the 420HC steel they use. It is very resistant to corrosion as well.

I will say that when I started using CPM-3V, the edge holding advantage became quite apparent.

I tend to butcher while in the field so I don’t have to carry bone weight in my pack. Running through a couple of animals becomes quicker and easier when the edge stays sharp longer. This is especially handy when it’s getting dark and your in a hurry to get hiking.

That said, I have had no real issues using Bucks 420HC. It just needs a few swipes on a steeling rod or sharpener more often.
 
I gut them, cut open the rib cage and remove everything. Pelvis, I just chop it open with a hatchet, and knife it out. Some folks are surgeons that way. It's usually dark and I'm not gonna fool around...
Grab the tractor, throw it in the loader and drive up to the house.
I get plenty of exercise everyday at work, I'll take the easy way on my own time.

Here it's usually cold, so we can let them hang a bit before processing..... it's not uncommon they've froze solid by the next morning.. I don't process them anymore myself.
I've met folks that do amazing work for a fair price, so I let them do it. And they see to it that the hides go to good use, so I'm good with that.

You say it's different there.
I'm assuming your referring to the actual processing...

I didn't deer hunt last year. First year missed in almost 40 years.
My buddies and I decided not to meet up due to the epidemic.... some folks had family members that were at risk health wise, and my wife's a nurse.... so we played it safe. We had lots of work, so I did that instead.
Get a side of beef with the money saved/ earned.

I look forward to this year.
 
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Most people consider field dressing to be gutting and dragging out to be processed at home or taken to a processor.

That's why they call it -Field- dressing........and a 110 with 420HC is a great choice. You can spend a lot more money on the "special" steels but you won't get more knife overall and you'll spend more time sharpening.

I add a cut on the pelvis to spread the legs and open the rectal area and ripping along the breastbone to the throat--both with the saw blade on my Swiss Army Knife.

That might be cheating.

:D

Bottom line is that 420HC is one of the best steels.
 
For what it’s worth, I use a Buck 112/420HC to cut or open things every day or two, just around the home and where ever. I enjoy how easy it is to touch up the edge, using the bottom of a ceramic coffee mug, or the driver’s window, or whatever. I have another in S30V, and that edge does last longer, and it’s a great lock blade, but I have to use stones to renew the edge. Both knives are favorites, but Buck’s 420HC is easier for me to use.
 
Here a mule deer buck weighs 225- 240 lbs.. And you can easily be 2 miles off a dirt road when you drop him. Thus, the field work takes place right there. Gut, skin & quarter. The quarters are hung in game bags. You hike back to camp carrying what you can. Maybe just back strap. Then get your back packs and a buddy. You head back and get what you can on the next trip. By the 2nd trip you have it mostly at camp. Should you have to leave some hanging over night.
You best be prepared for a bear visiting.
This amount of knife work is considerably different.
I know a lot of guys who like using a 112 but they are not quartering. 420 steel will do it. But back at camp I touch it up on the 1st trip. DM
 
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I have several Buck knives in 420hc that I use in certain tasks where it works sufficiently. It doesn’t hold the edge as long as s30v, S35vn and other super steels but depending on what you are using it for, it does the job. My work edc vantage pro is cpm 20cv mostly because I work around some harsh and corrosive chemicals and 20cv handles it very well. I also carry a 303 cadet with 420hc and while I don’t use it for the harsher tasks it works well in smaller more lighter tasks and I don’t have to sharpen it but maybe once every 2 weeks. Sometimes just stropping it is all I need to do to get it in shape.
So I think it depends on what you are using your knife for, the environment, type of materials and how you use and sharpen them as to which steel to select for that job. I like having a choice and I’m glad 420hc is just one of them.
 
I have field dressed and quartered 3 deer in a weekend with only a Buck 110 and a saw. Once I have it all at home in an ice chest, my wife usually does the rest , deboning and working up the meat, pretty much putting most of the meat into bite sized nuggets( thats the way the kids will eat it, dipping it in ranch) She usually uses a case sodbuster, but just started using a havalon this past season.
But thats all I take to camp, a Buck 110 and a good bone saw and the just recently discovered havalon for fine detailed cutting.
 
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