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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
steel type in SAK's and Buck fixed blades
- Thread starter evasion
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 27, 1999
- Messages
- 6,117
Someone on the forum determined that Victorinox uses 420HC (European designation X46Cr13 or equivalent). This would have about .5% carbon, 1% silicon and manganese, and about 13% chromium. This type of alloy would work in the 54-56 rockwell hardness range. I've found that this alloy takes a good edge easily and does a pretty good job for pocket knife tasks, even cleaning rabbits. By contrast the lower quality 420-J2 alloys have around .35% carbon and 440A is more like .7% carbon plus has a little molybdenum.
Buck uses a similar alloy, but I think they get it up to 57RC. The alloy seems to be pretty clean and takes a sharp edge. I believe Buck cryo treats their steel which makes it take a finer edge and hold it better. I prefer the alloy to 440A,B,or C since it is easy to get sharp. It won't hold an edge like 440C.
Buck uses a similar alloy, but I think they get it up to 57RC. The alloy seems to be pretty clean and takes a sharp edge. I believe Buck cryo treats their steel which makes it take a finer edge and hold it better. I prefer the alloy to 440A,B,or C since it is easy to get sharp. It won't hold an edge like 440C.