OKC bushcraft woodsman: 420 hc in a chopper ???

[bikerector]

When we choose to beat the hell out of a knife, you accept that the knife could break. Tis life.

This is true and I think there are 2 good approaches: buy affordable so breaking doesn't hurt or buy something like an esee or busse where they cover you being stupid with a knife. Disability insurance is extra because they aren't cover lost limbs so that's a good limit to the stupidity.

 

[Stubai]

I liked the looks of this knife from the very first time I saw it. Seems like a solid performer and then some. Something tells me that Ontario Knife Company has put this beast through some tough testing. I would not lose any sleep over not using this knife for anything that may come your way. In fact...let me see what Amazon has at the moment...

 

[Frotier76]

You're thinking of 420J, and also knives with poor heat treatment. I've got a 20" Condor Viking machete in 420HC that's been going strong for many years now, and it's been used on stuff up to full blown trees with frozen knots in it. No issues. Back when Condor had more QC issues they'd occasionally have a batch come through that hadn't been properly tempered and they'd be brittle, but when done as it's supposed to, it readily takes and holds an edge in that sort of context. It's not the steel to choose for high-abrasion cutting, but most outdoors cutting tasks are more likely to cause plastic deformation than abrasive wear, especially in the context of a chopper.

There's not really a big difference between 420J2 and 420HC.You can easily apply too much pressure on a bench stone and end up rolling up the apex back and forth with either of those steels.That's just how the 420 Series responds-it's lack of alloying is a major contributor to their low edge stability.

It wouldn't matter if it was OKC's 53-55rc on 420HC,CRKT's 54-56rc on 420J2 and 55-57rc on AUS-4 (last of Taiwan years),or Buck's 58rc on 420HC.Or a cheap Pakistan or Taiwan 1980's/1990's fixed blade probably in the same rc ballpark as OKC.It's all the same sensation within this steel family.There's a very obvious reason this stuff isn't applied to use on lawnmower blades...because consumers would end up mangled edges pretty quick.

 

[pinnah]

There's not really a big difference between 420J2 and 420HC.You can easily apply too much pressure on a bench stone and end up rolling up the apex back and forth with either of those steels.That's just how the 420 Series responds-it's lack of alloying is a major contributor to their low edge stability.

It wouldn't matter if it was OKC's 53-55rc on 420HC,CRKT's 54-56rc on 420J2 and 55-57rc on AUS-4 (last of Taiwan years),or Buck's 58rc on 420HC.Or a cheap Pakistan or Taiwan 1980's/1990's fixed blade probably in the same rc ballpark as OKC.It's all the same sensation within this steel family.There's a very obvious reason this stuff isn't applied to use on lawnmower blades...because consumers would end up mangled edges pretty quick.

This has not been my experience with these steels.

I regularly rotate between a Buck 110 (420HC at 58Rc), a Case Sodbuster (420HC at 56RC) and an Opinel Inox 9 (12C27 at 58RC).

What I've found is that it's super easy to get a floppy wire edge on the softer Case and easier to hone the Buck and Opinel. So for my sharpening hand, moving from 56 to 58 RC changes the situation. I should add that my Mora Companion feels to between the two.

 

[Grease]

AEB-L, which is very similar for grain structure and all that but can achieve higher hardness, has been shown to be very tough as well and I'm very interested in getting a big knife in that steel. I think I'll have to go custom, assuming the steel is available in those sizes, but could be really interesting for a tough stainless knife.

Gavko has some bush swords in AEB-L, so its definitely around in that size.

Look up youtube vids of his Excalibur. That thing is like a Busse with a scalpel edge. Never seen a blade take such huge bites out of wood.

 

[sopwithcamelus]

Gavko has some bush swords in AEB-L, so its definitely around in that size.

Look up youtube vids of his Excalibur. That thing is like a Busse with a scalpel edge. Never seen a blade take such huge bites out of wood.

I took your advice. That blade is incredible. Like he's cutting styrofoam.

 

[Alberta Ed]

420HC is good stuff the way Buck heat treats it. Tough, highly stain resistant, fine grained, easy to sharpen, takes a very fine edge with little effort. Works for millions of users.