Buck Knives- steel

On my test AUS8 shows pretty average results - way behing Buck 420HC, and this is as well common observation here. It is hard to believe that AUS8 will outperform Buck 420HC.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I have two knives with AUS-8 blades and two Buck knives in 420HC. I don't notice much difference between the two in edge holding. Both can be sharpened to an excellent edge without much effort. Overall, I like both steels.
 
My tests don't produce numbers, I use a hand lens to examine the edges for damage after cutting manila rope and compare the amount of damage I see. I can rank them, but stating the exact amount of difference between each alloy is difficult. If I had to set a scale, assuming all the blades were the same hardness, it would be on the order of

154CM_____10.5
440C _____10
AUS8 ______9
Buck 420HC _8

I like Buck's 420HC. It gives reasonable edge retention performance with very easy sharpening.
 
What is this damage you see and how it is related to edge holding?

Thanks, Vassili.
 
AwJeez.jpg
 
nozh2002 said:
What is this damage you see and how it is related to edge holding?

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...

Rather than hijack this further, if you will give me a couple of days I will try to put together a thread to post on the testing forum.
 
knarfeng said:
Rather than hijack this further, if you will give me a couple of days I will try to put together a thread to post on the testing forum.
Click to expand...

Thanks, please do. I is really a lot of work to test the way I do and so I like to see some other ways of testing. However, I am not sure in direct correlation, but still it may be quite useful and may be easier to do.

I do look at the edge under microscope, during my tests, and see chips and bend, but did not put any formal process to count it to some kind of measurement. Is it directly related with my sharpness test or not - it is still should be very informative and describe what is happening with edge during load.

I guess I may do same in addition to statistic thread cutting test, during next test session.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
knarfeng said:
My tests don't produce numbers, I use a hand lens to examine the edges for damage after cutting manila rope and compare the amount of damage I see. I can rank them, but stating the exact amount of difference between each alloy is difficult. If I had to set a scale, assuming all the blades were the same hardness, it would be on the order of

154CM_____10.5
440C _____10
AUS8 ______9
Buck 420HC _8

I like Buck's 420HC. It gives reasonable edge retention performance with very easy sharpening.
Click to expand...


NM. I found your testing thread :).
 
Buck's 420HC is a fine steel for a working knife. it holds its edge for a reasonable amount of time, deforms instead of chips when contacting hard media during cutting, has high rust resistance and can be easily resharpened or reprofiled in the field with minimal effort. I don't have statistical testing data to back this up only my own real world experience using a 110 (2004 vintage with the edge 2000) as a commercial fisherman and tug deckhand. Buck's 420HC outshines the same steel from other companies due to its superior heat treat and edge geometry. I find it on par with well heat treated AUS 6 and slightly less than Byrd's 8Cr13MoV and Spyderco & Benchmade's AUS 8.

as with any steel selection you have to compromise toughness for hardness, wear resistance for ease of resharpening, corrosion resistance for edge retention.

learn to sharpen the blade to an angle that is optimum for you and select a steel from a reputable company that heat treats its blades properly.

all in all you can't go wrong with a buck knife. the 110 has been around for a long time for a reason.
 
nozh2002 said:
Well of course their ALascan Guide 110 with CPM S30V or their BassPro 110 with CPM 154 (which is different then 154CM) and custom shop 110 with BG42, all performs better then their regular 110 with 420HC. I recommend to have Bass Pro or custom shop BG42, if you looking for best their edge retention.

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip, Vassili. I am definitely going to get one of these.:thumbup:
 
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