Is there any difference between 420 steel and 420 j2

K

Kevin the grey

Joined
Aug 26, 2005
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I saw some Gil Hibben knives made with 420 J2 steel . They were small throwers that looked like little skinners or patch knives . I,ve been told that 420 is all right for throwers but won,t hold an edge well . Is the 420 J2 different ?
 
The specs for 420 have .15 Carbon minimum while the 420 J2 has .15 Carbon.For the most part they are the same. Then there is 420 HC with .40-.50 Carbon with small amounts of V and Mo. Above that there is the 440 series .440A has .60-.75 C. ..420 makes a poor blade !!
 
Just to say the maker just E-mailed me stating the J2 is comparable to 440 .
He states that it may be sharpened without going into how satisfied I would be with the sharpening .

Thanks Mete . In the end it may suit a man who is going to use it as a thrower and nothing else . Too bad , they are nice simple looking knives
 
according to my info 420 just slightly holds a better edge than j2 and is easier to sharpen a whole lot tougher and a whole lot more stain resistant. 440 is WAY better than j2 and there are a lot of knife steels below 440 and all are above j2 imo.

sog
 
420 J2 is swell for liners and the outer layers of laminated blades.

It is crap for bladesteel though, which is why it is the steel of choice for non-functional wallhangers.
 
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