-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
It's OK to own 420hc.
- Thread starter averageguy
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2003
- Messages
- 104
I don't care what heat treat goes on the knife is still 420HC. Why couldn't they at least make it out of a mid range steel like a 440A/C. Alloy of a knife is one of the backbones of a good knives design, and with this one as soon as I saw the price I was sorely disapointed. What it comes down to 420 at that price is rediculous.
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2004
- Messages
- 1,526
For that price, I could get a Swamp Rat... 
Next question? 
Next question? 
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2003
- Messages
- 3,734
I think the guard renders about an inch of the handle useless. Although It would look look menacing for a NAVY Seal to let just the dorsal fin guard protrude out of the water as he approaches shore (humming the theme from Jaws) 
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2003
- Messages
- 305
Here's a little bit of info,
Strider tested the 890's in a variety of steels. From S30V, BG42, ATS34 to 420 High Carbon. All the steels performed almost exactly the same when used by the operator for heavy field use. Strider beat the hell out of the 420 HC knives to make sure they were up to par, and they were.
I know many of you are steel connisuers that must have your high dollar knife steels. The reality is, that in a large fixed blade like this, high end steels like S30V lose some ground to 420HC. In a kitchen knife, small folder or a skinner (just a few examples), the high end steels performance is more visible. They hold an edge better and provide more overall strength in such a small package. With the 890 blade geometry and intended purpose in mind 420HC is perfect.
Pricing,
This is a 12" long, 1/4" thick knife. It has about 70% more steel in it than the Special. It has G10 Scales and a Kydex Sheath, the 119 Special does not. The 119 has been around for decades, hence the very low retail price.
There are many other basic economics issues that add to the difference in the prices of these two knives, and similar comparisons.
Rest assured that dealers place their products at prices that sell, we don't set what the price is.
If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me to answer any of your questions.
Josh
Strider tested the 890's in a variety of steels. From S30V, BG42, ATS34 to 420 High Carbon. All the steels performed almost exactly the same when used by the operator for heavy field use. Strider beat the hell out of the 420 HC knives to make sure they were up to par, and they were.
I know many of you are steel connisuers that must have your high dollar knife steels. The reality is, that in a large fixed blade like this, high end steels like S30V lose some ground to 420HC. In a kitchen knife, small folder or a skinner (just a few examples), the high end steels performance is more visible. They hold an edge better and provide more overall strength in such a small package. With the 890 blade geometry and intended purpose in mind 420HC is perfect.
Pricing,
This is a 12" long, 1/4" thick knife. It has about 70% more steel in it than the Special. It has G10 Scales and a Kydex Sheath, the 119 Special does not. The 119 has been around for decades, hence the very low retail price.
There are many other basic economics issues that add to the difference in the prices of these two knives, and similar comparisons.
Rest assured that dealers place their products at prices that sell, we don't set what the price is.
If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me to answer any of your questions.
Josh
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2000
- Messages
- 3,625
I don't care what anyone says, 420HC sucks... at this price! :barf:
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2000
- Messages
- 3,625
Cold Steel decided that 420HC was a good steel also... :barf:
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 1,487
So is the MSRP just a number made up by the dealers to make it seem as if you are getting a good deal when it is sold for $30 less or is it really the MSRP? It seems strange that I would, for once, save money on trying to be a "steel connisuer" and trying to buy the best steel in a knife that I could afford instead of 420HC. I think that made sense...
Mark Nelson said:
I think you could fairly make the analogy that "MSRP" is like sausage - many varied agendas all ground up and stuffing into a single casing.
"MSRP" is pretty meaningless in most cases. Very few knife companies have the leverage to enforce any pricing structure.
420hc for $159.99, what a great deal...I recommend ordering at least 2!
C'mon, Buck does do a great job of getting the most out of that steel but you can get a cheap Buck for $35 with the same steel, that will perform exactly as that knife does.
This is a case of "make it look cool enough and they'll buy it"...marketing at it's finest!
If you like it buy it,
Collecter
C'mon, Buck does do a great job of getting the most out of that steel but you can get a cheap Buck for $35 with the same steel, that will perform exactly as that knife does.
This is a case of "make it look cool enough and they'll buy it"...marketing at it's finest!
If you like it buy it,
Collecter
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2003
- Messages
- 305
The bottom line is, buy whatever tool works best for you and your mission profile- that meets your desired price range.
It seems a few of you have some predisposed bias towards 420HC because of its lesser cost compared to ATS-34 etc. The most important part of knife making is the heat treat process. We have the best man in the business. With Paul Bos' Heat Treat,our 420HC becomes something much more than another knife manufacturers.
A lot of information is available out there to become educated on Steels and their exploitation processes (heat treat). It is all very interesting and will help you to better understand.
If any would like to bring a fixed blade of like size over to Buck, we can test the two and see which one performs better. My door is always open. I'll even give you a tour
More on Pricing
MSRPs are not intended to be inflated, but over time and due to supply and demand they can appear to be. The "street price" on any product will steadily decrease as its saturation in the market increases.
The type of retailer also will set the price due to their product objectives. Some stores such as Wal-Mart do not need to make as much money on each knife as does a small "specialty" knife store. Some internet retailers will sell a product for a few dollars or even cents over what they pay for it.
All of these factors will effect the "street price" of a product overtime.
If you are one that likes to wait for a better price, then do so. If you are one to buy from a mass merchant, then go right ahead.
Don't let the MSRP get you in a panic.
Get one of these knives in your hand and then decide if you think they aren't worth the price.
And, as I have stated before. More versions will be built in different steels for other contracts, and some of those will be made available to the public as well. The ones TAD have were some extras left over from a cutomer order.
My personal favorite steel is BG-42, because thats what my Strider WB is made of.
Thanks for the feedback guys, we appreciate it.
Take care,
Josh
Director, Buck Tactical Division
1900 Weld Blvd
El cajon, CA 92020
(619) 449-1100
M-F 0900-1600 (Come on by)
It seems a few of you have some predisposed bias towards 420HC because of its lesser cost compared to ATS-34 etc. The most important part of knife making is the heat treat process. We have the best man in the business. With Paul Bos' Heat Treat,our 420HC becomes something much more than another knife manufacturers.
A lot of information is available out there to become educated on Steels and their exploitation processes (heat treat). It is all very interesting and will help you to better understand.
If any would like to bring a fixed blade of like size over to Buck, we can test the two and see which one performs better. My door is always open. I'll even give you a tour
More on Pricing
MSRPs are not intended to be inflated, but over time and due to supply and demand they can appear to be. The "street price" on any product will steadily decrease as its saturation in the market increases.
The type of retailer also will set the price due to their product objectives. Some stores such as Wal-Mart do not need to make as much money on each knife as does a small "specialty" knife store. Some internet retailers will sell a product for a few dollars or even cents over what they pay for it.
All of these factors will effect the "street price" of a product overtime.
If you are one that likes to wait for a better price, then do so. If you are one to buy from a mass merchant, then go right ahead.
Don't let the MSRP get you in a panic.
Get one of these knives in your hand and then decide if you think they aren't worth the price.
And, as I have stated before. More versions will be built in different steels for other contracts, and some of those will be made available to the public as well. The ones TAD have were some extras left over from a cutomer order.
My personal favorite steel is BG-42, because thats what my Strider WB is made of.
Thanks for the feedback guys, we appreciate it.
Take care,
Josh
Director, Buck Tactical Division
1900 Weld Blvd
El cajon, CA 92020
(619) 449-1100
M-F 0900-1600 (Come on by)
