Need Blade Info

5

50calrev

Joined
Jan 16, 2009
Messages
91
I'm wondering how does 420 J2 stainless steel performs as a knife blade. Is it easy to sharpen? Will it hold an edge? Durable? etc. I would like to say Thankyou in advance for answers.
 
It isn't a very good blade steel, definitely at the bottom of usable blade steels. It should sharpen fairly easily assuming you don't get a stubburn burr that just moves from side to side and doesn't want to come off. This can be a problem with softer steels. It won't hold an edge very well at all but is one of the more stain resistant stainless steels.
 
420J2 is very corrosion resistant and is easy to sharpen.
It will not hold an edge very well.

Add: it is a fine blade steel if it meets your needs.
 
Cheap cheap cheap -- but it's better than anything listed simply as "stainless steel" (if whatever seller differentiates between types of stainless on some items), including those knives listed as "400-series" stainless.
I try to avoid it, though I must say that my Leatherman Skeletool has a 420 blade & that has made sharpening quite easy (especially on a diamond hone).
And I like my Wusthofs, which use a base of 420 (that's the "X" in the formula on the blade, otherwise known as surgical steel). As an aside, it makes sense that it would be used in surgical applications, because it's cheap (for purposes of disposal) and can take a very keen edge. Doesn't mean it's a good idea for heavier applications.
The reason I despise this steel so much is that companies market the steel as if was some great thing, but as FlaMtnBkr noted, it's right at the bottom of usable.
Before anyone jumps down my throat, I should state that the heat treatment process can make a huge difference, but if the blade your looking at is from a reputable company, chances are the heat treatment isn't much of an issue. But if your looking at buying something like a Buck where you have the option to buy a knife with a 420 blade or something a bit more serious like 154 CM or S30V, just go with the upgrade. If nothing else, you'll feel better about the knife your using.
 
MplsAtty said:
But if your looking at buying something like a Buck where you have the option to buy a knife with a 420 blade or something a bit more serious like 154 CM or S30V, just go with the upgrade. If nothing else, you'll feel better about the knife your using.[/B]
Click to expand...

How much experience do you have with 420HC as produced by Buck and Paul Bos? In what knives and used for what purposes?

For that matter, how much experience do you have with 420J2?

There is nothing wrong with any particular alloy. Each one is good for something. But you have to match the properties of the alloy with the use at hand.
 
i ditto knarfeng on the 420. one member stated that he had to "sharpen 420 in the dark because the sunlight made it go dull."another formite stated that the best use of 420 was auto bumpers.
 
420 has been around for a very long time, Buck's vers is really pretty good for knives in there price range.

Are you going to cut cardboard all day with it, no you won't because it won't hold an edge for very long. It is easy to sharpen though and very stain resistant.
 
Just to clarify, 420J2 is not the same alloy as the 420HC that Buck and several others use, and it is way different than 420V (a.k.a. S90V). 420HC can be heat-treated into a very good blade. 420J2 is used where toughness (resistence to chipping) and corrosion resistence are the primary needs, such as diving knives that will spend a lot of time in salt water and are likely to be used as much for prying as cutting. 420J2 would not rank in my personal top ten steels, as I value wear resistence for edge holding over corrosion resistence.
 
420J2 is awesome for steel liners in hard use folders, as for knife blades...Nnnnot so much.
 
Thank you, Yablanowitz, for the clarification on the 420HC vs. J2.

So all I said was that I really don't like 420. Knarfeng, I don't have a lot of experience with Buck anything because they use so damn much 420 as a rule I avoid that company -- they're not going to go out of business without me. Though I do have at least one cheaper hunter model that came sharp . But didn't I mention surgical and cooking uses? Fine if you're planning to sharpen after every use (cooking) or throw it away (surgery), or don't really care about the edge (throwing knives -- which I'm actually fine with 420 in a thrower).
There's nothing wrong with a bronze spear if you're an ancient Roman, & yeah, 420 is a lot better than that. But if you're going to drop a decent bill on a knife, there are better options in my humble & clearly inexperienced opinion.
 
MplsAtty said:
Cheap cheap cheap -- but it's better than anything listed simply as "stainless steel" (if whatever seller differentiates between types of stainless on some items), including those knives listed as "400-series" stainless.
I try to avoid it, though I must say that my Leatherman Skeletool has a 420 blade & that has made sharpening quite easy (especially on a diamond hone).
And I like my Wusthofs, which use a base of 420 (that's the "X" in the formula on the blade, otherwise known as surgical steel). As an aside, it makes sense that it would be used in surgical applications, because it's cheap (for purposes of disposal) and can take a very keen edge. Doesn't mean it's a good idea for heavier applications.
The reason I despise this steel so much is that companies market the steel as if was some great thing, but as FlaMtnBkr noted, it's right at the bottom of usable.
Before anyone jumps down my throat, I should state that the heat treatment process can make a huge difference, but if the blade your looking at is from a reputable company, chances are the heat treatment isn't much of an issue. But if your looking at buying something like a Buck where you have the option to buy a knife with a 420 blade or something a bit more serious like 154 CM or S30V, just go with the upgrade. If nothing else, you'll feel better about the knife your using.
Click to expand...

MplsAtty said:
Thank you, Yablanowitz, for the clarification on the 420HC vs. J2.

So all I said was that I really don't like 420. Knarfeng, I don't have a lot of experience with Buck anything because they use so damn much 420 as a rule I avoid that company -- they're not going to go out of business without me. Though I do have at least one cheaper hunter model that came sharp . But didn't I mention surgical and cooking uses? Fine if you're planning to sharpen after every use (cooking) or throw it away (surgery), or don't really care about the edge (throwing knives -- which I'm actually fine with 420 in a thrower).
There's nothing wrong with a bronze spear if you're an ancient Roman, & yeah, 420 is a lot better than that. But if you're going to drop a decent bill on a knife, there are better options in my humble & clearly inexperienced opinion.
Click to expand...

My point is that you implied that Buck 420HC was inadequate as an EDC steel and that the OP should avoid it.

Now you say you don't have much experience with it.

If you want to say, "I prefer alloy XX because it holds an edge better ...." cool.

If you want to say, "alloy XX is worthless and you won't feel cool if your knife has it." (to use your terminology) That is bogus. Especially if you actually don't have any experience with it.

No alloy is worthless. It just depends on the use.
 
Knarf, I picked Buck as an example because it's such a big name AND I know that the company uses multiple blade steels. And I know that they have a very reliable heat-treating process. That's why I picked Buck.
I did not imply that 420HC was inadequate as an EDC blade steel, I said it explicitly. I have enough experience with other 420 blades to know that I don't trust the 420HC Buck-made knife I do own to hold an edge or to not bend that currently pristine tip.
I gave 3 examples where 420 has worth -- EDC blade steel is not one of those 3. MY opinion is that the OP should avoid it as a blade steel. Telling me it's not okay to express my opinion is not cool.
 
Not all 420's are created equal. Suggesting someone should avoid all 420 steels because you had a bad experience with one goes beyond painting with a broad brush. Citing a specific brand without substantial experience with that brand is likely to get you called out. Above all, remember the phrase "in my opinion" can be used to avoid having your statement of opinion taken as a statement of fact. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and to share it with others. Keeping facts straight can be hard enough without having opinions thrown in with them.
 
Points taken, yablanowitz. I'm not a nubie to the forums but I don't come here often, so I forget that there better ways to approach discussions and things to remember.
 
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