S&M carpenters whittler - Series XV

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rprocter

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i recently ordered this knife from an online store. it is 420 HC steel which is at the low end of stainless steels, being rather weak and not very wear resistant. would not a harder more wear resistant steel allow for a thinner blade and edge, which would facilitate whittling ?
does this knife come in other steels ? i would also appreciate hearing more about 420 HC and why S&M chose it for this knife.
 
It's cheap. There's your main reason. 420HC at 55-57HRC, which is where S&M runs it, will be quite highly stainless and easy to sharpen, but have poor strength. I've a series XIII barlow I love, and would have settled on as my EDC if they'd used a better steel. As it is, carving with it is a chore.
 
As I understand it's not even 420HC. Just plain old 420. I think they use it because they think people are going to buy their knives and not use them.

I wish they used something better. I would really like to buy a S&M user.
 
My understanding is that the S&M 420 is 420HC, not 420J2 but that's not definitive. I thought Canal Street was the only one using 420J2 for their blades.

My impression, like others, is that the S&M line are made with collecting in mind rather than using. 420HC is a servicable steel, especially for a slipjoint. However, these are supposed to be top of the line knives, and they certainly charge top of the line prices for them. I agree with the original poster that for a whittling knife you are going to want high carbon steel with better strength and wear resistance.

Ironically, my Queen Cutlery whittler with delrin handles that cost $34 has D2 steel hardened to RC 60. Serious stuff.

There are S&M knives offered with ATS-34 and 1095 steel, but they are few and far between.
 
Bungwrench said:
As I understand it's not even 420HC. Just plain old 420. I think they use it because they think people are going to buy their knives and not use them.

I wish they used something better. I would really like to buy a S&M user.
Click to expand...

Cumberland lists it as 420HC, 56-57RC. Soft for a user.

You can still find ATS-34 S&Ms. That would be a good user.
 
Ya that is a tad soft ... Buck runs their 420HC at 58-60HRC I believe.
They do a really good job with it. At times I carry a Squire for EDC and
it holds an edge longer then I expected.
On the flip side Victorinox runs their steel at 56 and it ain't too bad.

I think we are getting spoiled with all these higher end steel. :-)
Not that I'm complaining.
 
I think that Buck has an advantage over everyone else with their 420HC because of Paul Bos. I think the people at Buck could take a paper bag and harden it to 60RC with Paul Bos' supervision. :D

I think that Victorinox's steel is very good but it doesn't hold an edge that long. At least for me it does not.

In the past I have been very happy with 440C and 154CM hardened to 58-60.
 
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