Opinions on new Falkniven A-2

[Orion]

I know the Falkniven knives are generally held in high regard on these forums. I do not own any Falkniven knives yet because I have been waiting on them to come out with a model that is more suited to my tastes. The A-2 is about the closest one I've seen. The question I have is regarding the steel used in the new A-2. It seems to be a "sandwich" type layered steel in the vein of CS's San Mai, only Falkniven's steel consists of a center piece of VG-10 that is sandwiched between two pieces of 420-J2. I know the forums frown vehemently upon United products primarily because of their choice to utilize 420-J2 in most of their knives.
Will the 420 opponents deride Falkniven and the A-2 now that they have made this decision to use 420 or will they say it's OK because Falkniven has a reputation of producing quality knives and the edge is VG-10 so it does not really matter?
I am anxious to see what everyone's opinions are/will be...

Peace-
Cam

 

[averageguy]

I doubt anybody has any real issues with the Fallkniven. For me personally the handles on the A1 and the S1 are too small.

I wanted to say this however; I know there are some forumites that hold 420 in contempt. I am not one of them. Knives of 420 have been offered by Benchmade, Cold Steel, Buck and Camillus to name a few. The way - way vast majority of knives in use in kitchens in the US and Europe are 420. There are even custom makers that use 420. I still own a few 420 knives and even buy a new one once in a while if I like the design.

What's really funny is I've seen forumites here who dismiss 440C.

 

[Steven Roos]

I'm not much for 420, but with the VG-10 they use in the middle it should still hold a great edge. Worth a shot I think.

 

[Crayola]

IF the side pieces of the san mai construction are 420J2, then this is probably a great choice!

There is different versions of 420 steel, so it is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE to identify which kind is involved. For example, the Camillus Arc Lite Necker (I hope I have that name right) uses 420HS, or something liek that. This is a way better cutlery steel than 420J2. 420J2 will be strong and corrosion resistant, but it won't hold an edge.

The VG-10 in the sandwich is a great steel for knife edges. No one is going to rag on Fallkniven for using 420J2 in that knife, because the 420J2 isn't the steel that forms the edge.

United Cutlery, in comparison, uses 420J2 for entire blades, so they will get ragged on here