Pillockian Certified 192 BuckCote, 419 S30V, & 2007 110 Damascus Test

Buckaholic · Dec 23, 2007

Well...
No scientific data here.
Just real world observations.
I took a Kalinga 419 S30V, 2007 110 Damascus, and a 192 BuckCote...(*all minty) and went to work on a ton of cardboard. Ya know, it's that time of year when gramps has to play elf, take things outta the box and put 'em together. Oh, and one box was something for me...a Little Chief Smoker from Cabela's...my wife...I think I'll keep her.

Anyway...
The Vanguard BuckCote...sharpest throughout the day. Goes through cardboard like a box cutter.
Raindrop Damascus...VERY close second..
419 Kalinga...sharp, but hung up on the board quite often and needs to be touched up.

I'm tellin' ya Lucy...if I could trust those BuckCotes not to curl or chip...that blade would be an EDC.
But, then again, if they didn't exhibit that trait, Buck would probably still be selling them.

Click the pic:

* "All Minty" meaning that all have been used VERY lightly...to the point of hardly ever being used for anything. My primary EDC is a fixed Kalinga Pro or my Intrepid...those see use when I need a knife. These are backups and have probably been used less than a dozen times for anything. The toughest duty any one of them has seem is when I used the Kalinga folder to cut up my smoked lamb chops...which are tender given the preparation.

Pack Rat · Dec 23, 2007

Verrrry Interrrresting.... You may just have to ship those better performers out here for real testing on some wild game.

Never mind the 419...got one of those laying here. Saving it for real testing also.

Is there a pattern to some of us getting new blades that aren't as sharp as we think they should be? RE my trial with the cpm154.

Get the 419 touched up... We wanna know!!!!:thumbup:

Buckaholic · Dec 23, 2007

Ya know Larry...I was gonna edit my post to state that it's perhaps not that the 419 isn't as sharp...but maybe the blade thickness (past the grind). This causes drag when cutting through...the BuckCotes are razor thin from grind to spine when compared to the 419 and the Damascus comes in second...so, I am certain that has something to do with the amount of effort to get through the cardboard.

EDIT:
Well...that theory doesn't hold water.
Spine thickness:
192 5/32"
110 4/32"
419 4/32"

Oh well...all I know is that the BuckCote Ionfusion knives cut like a hot knife through butter.
I'd really like a expert explanation (versus "opinion"...everyone has those along with something else...afterall, you've just seen mine).
I find it curious.

Pack Rat · Dec 23, 2007

Buckaholic said:
Ya know Larry...I was gonna edit my post to state that it's perhaps not that the 419 isn't as sharp...but maybe the balde thickness (past the grind). This causes drag when cutting through...the BuckCotes are razor thin from grind to spine when compared to the 419 and the Damascus comes in second...so, I am certain that has something to do with the amount of effort to get through the cardboard.

Ran down stairs and rounded up mine. I see what you mean and how it could drag more on the cardboard. I won't have that problem on deer, whew..

So just for grins, I grabbed up the just arrived beegee42 custom and started slicing thin slivers. Then took a turn with the 419 and same thin slivers equally as well.

When yall go to trying this, listen real close to the sound as you slice slivers as you become superior sliver slicers (say that real fast 5 times) and see if the beegee42 doesn't sound "different". Maybe just me, but grabbed my attention right off.

ok,,,just sliced slivers wth 420, and ats34 and they all sounded a tad different.

Sorry for the slight drift Goose. Now where is that D2 for some sliver slicing...

Buckaholic · Dec 23, 2007

No prob Larry. I don't see it as a thread drift. It's related.
Gotta be the "teeth" in the grind intrinsics with the diff steels (there, another one of my opinions...but still only one a-hole LOL).
So, I remain, curious...

Pack Rat · Dec 23, 2007

Buckaholic said:
No prob Larry. I don't see it as a thread drift. It's related.
Gotta be the "teeth" in the grind intrinsics with the diff steels (there, another one of my opinions...but still only one a-hole LOL).
So, I remain, curious...

yeah,,,that word....that must be it...

ok.. so now I too have compared spine thickness. Would have said the 419 was thicker than a 110 till I laid them back to back. So may be back to yours just not being quite as sharp out of the box???

I gotta put these suckers away and clear off my desk before I get cut

DarrylS · Dec 23, 2007

...Hmmm...Interesting thoughts bein' tossed around this thread. I'm willin' to bet that all these knives are "sharpened" by Buck on a belt. I'd also bet that if ya took 5 identical knives with BG42 or any of the steels and used that belt to sharpen 'em at a slightly different speed moving perpendicular to the belt...You'd hear different notes being played whilst ya made "slivers" of last night's newspaper...Just another thought...

Scott Hartman · Dec 23, 2007

'Goose, I think you're on to something with "drag" on the blade past the cutting edge, as well as the blade shape and contours, all having an effect on a blades cutting performance, on cardboard. The Ionfusion coating should offer the least resistance and friction. Now I'll have to continue my "good laugh", as I think of those collecting 'fusion, and how this thread will surely push those knife prices even higher

wh4f · Dec 23, 2007

Scott Hartman said:
'Goose, I think you're on to something with "drag" on the blade past the cutting edge, as well as the blade shape and contours, all having an effect on a blades cutting performance, on cardboard. The Ionfusion coating should offer the least resistance and friction. Now I'll have to continue my "good laugh", as I think of those collecting 'fusion, and how this thread will surely push those knife prices even higher

GOOD LAUGH!!!!!!!!!! Scott your killing me! LOL

Thanks for the heads up Goose, My guess is also the titanium coating reduces drag. Also the softer steel is probably removed by the cardboard (very minor amounts BTW) to keep the titanium coating at the cutting edge (no pun intended)

I like the tests and info! I will have to try this once the kids open up santas presents in a couple days...

110 Dave · Dec 23, 2007

goose did you try any of the black damascuss from the early 90's ?
the 07 is the stain less right?
my carbon black damascuss seemed wicked ... but i only own queens and no users any more...

straitshot · Dec 23, 2007

I have some damascus users (not Buck), both thin and thick about Rc 56-7. They take an edge and keep it as well as any top carbon I've tried, and draw slice way longer in regular cutting. They are a real pleasure to carry and use. American made though, so I don't know about imports or stainless damascus.

Regards, ss.

Edit: By the way, I have and have used the Ion Crosslock (camo plastic with saw version) and it's a demon slicer. It went through a mulie breast bone like cardboard then processed the rest. At home under magnification, there was no change at all to the edge so I didn't even refresh it. Outstanding. Too bad it was misused and wrongly resharpened by so many users that it was discontinued. The saw is just OK, not outstanding because they are just straight cut teeth. ss

bucksway · Dec 23, 2007

For a person like ME who has not mastered putting a good edge on a blade a Ion Fusion coated blade will give you the sharpest edge for the longest possible time.....wh4f, is any of the different coatings better,or tougher?????

Messersmith · Dec 24, 2007

Cool test Gooser. How did you find the grip on the 419 during hard use? It looks like it would be comfortable but I have not had a chance to hold one yet.

wh4f · Dec 24, 2007

bucksway said:
is any of the different coatings better,or tougher?????

I'm probably not the best guy to ask that question

I just like them

There were 3 different coatings... I have never used the gold one!
But (IMHO) the coatings did have different hardness ratings if I remember right. They were all higher than the steel though so I doubt it would be very noticeable! The one thing I did notice was before the edge 2X technology, the grind wasn't as steep as the newer Ionfusions. So they seemed to be a little tougher in the edge dept.

110 Dave · Dec 24, 2007

some birdy said to me that the last of the coatings was the best..
i can not recall which that is...

Scott Hartman · Dec 24, 2007

A very Merry Christmas to all....Z5 was first, a titanium aluminum nitride, gray colored, and tested 2nd hardest on the Rockwell. Z2 was 2nd release, a titanium nitride, gold colored, and tested 3rd hardest on the Rockwell. Z4 was last coating produced, it's titanium zirconium nitride, the champagne color, and tested hardest on the Rockwell. Z5 & Z2 were Buckcotes, Z4 was Ionfusion and sports the E2K edge.
(Not responsible if any of this info is incorrect

)

wh4f · Dec 24, 2007

Scott Hartman said:
A very Merry Christmas to all....Z5 was first, a titanium aluminum nitride, gray colored, and tested 2nd hardest on the Rockwell. Z2 was 2nd release, a titanium nitride, gold colored, and tested 3rd hardest on the Rockwell. Z4 was last coating produced, it's titanium zirconium nitride, the champagne color, and tested hardest on the Rockwell. Z5 & Z2 were Buckcotes, Z4 was Ionfusion and sports the E2K edge.
(Not responsible if any of this info is incorrect)

Its looks good Scott

When they say 1st, 2nd, and 3rd hardest though, they are hard to tell the difference. They are all great edge holding knives!
I believe Gooses buffcote is a Buckcote blade and my 110 EDC is a ionfusion,
both seem to hold the same edge? I couldnt tell a difference anyway.

IF I were anyone looking for a new knife I would shy away from the ion/cotes, (thus keeping prices lower for me)

LOL