Colt using a 420 stainless?

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

I was skimming that big famous auction site, and ran into a seller offering a brown jigged bone handled Colt leg knife. It really caught my eye, being listed as a pretty large two blader at 5" closed. Anyhow, I know that [non-BF Dealer's] Rough Rider line uses 440a, but their Colt line seems to be some sort of 420 (doubt 420hc). Wonder why they would choose different steel over the RR line, especially since the Colt line is supposed to be a slight step up (atleast in overall f&f).

 

[Bob6794]

If they list the model number check it against what other sources. It could be an older colt before they started being produced where the Rough Riders are being made as well. It's also not a good idea to rely on Ebay or majority of the websites (even ones specializing in knives) on what a knife is using for blade steel sometimes. If you look at Buck knives they almost always list the blade as 420HC even if it is Chine Made and their using 420j2 for example. And from what I can tell the current Colt line uses 440a just like the Rough Riders for the most part.

 

[knarfeng]

Likely neither line is using an actual American alloy on a low cost knife. To do so, they would have to import the steel. China steel mills supply Chinese alloys, some of which are similar in performance to 440A, 420HC, etc., but aren't made to exactly the same composition.

So the actual question is whether Colt and Rough Rider use the same alloy for blade steel. And no, I have no idea whether they do or not.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Yeah, after some searching on the importer's (of both Colt and Rough Rider), it seems that 440A is the current steel used by them on their Colt line (or so they say). So, still not sure, but I am thinking that it's likely that they would use the same steel as in their RR line.

 

[black mamba]

On the [non-BF dealer] TV show they always said either "440 stainless" or "440A" was the blade steel on both RR and Colt, and since they make them, I believed them.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Thanks for your input, guys. I am pretty certain now that 440a is the material used on current Colt branded traditional patterned pocket knives