Super Steel

D

DDDWho

Joined
Aug 21, 2015
Messages
396
As my 50 year collection of Buck knives gets obsoleted by super steel I’ve become disheartened. I’m not that keen on super steel mainly because of price and I’m not convinced it’s that much better. My 400 series steels have served me well. I’m not interested in more 420HC steel because I feel it’s going bye bye. My interest in Buck is waning. I refuse to pay for super steel and I’m bullheaded enough to find a new favorite brand. Go ahead, beat me up I’m ready.
 
I'm not a collector, I use all my knives. To that end, I like Buck's 420hc. My work knives cut the things I need them to and they don't cost a fortune. For a knife in a collection, I don't understand why the steel matters so much. A recycled lawn mower blade will hold a fine edge, if it just sits on display. For knives that get used, Buck offers good performance for the money.
 
DDDWho said:
As my 50 year collection of Buck knives gets obsoleted by super steel I’ve become disheartened. I’m not that keen on super steel mainly because of price and I’m not convinced it’s that much better. My 400 series steels have served me well. I’m not interested in more 420HC steel because I feel it’s going bye bye. My interest in Buck is waning. I refuse to pay for super steel and I’m bullheaded enough to find a new favorite brand. Go ahead, beat me up I’m ready.
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I'm saddened by the fact that you say this. I have about the same time into my Buck obsession as you do. I'm thankful that they use the great steel(heat treatment) that they do. I chose Buck for what they, as a company, represent and the way they conduct business.
 
Technological advancements are inevitable with most products. Some consider that a positive thing. Some don’t.

It’s interesting to ponder that 420HC might be on its way out. I have never considered that until now.

Get em while you can, I guess.
 
I guess I don’t follow your post. You like Buck and 420, but won’t support them anymore because you feel they will replace 420 with super-steel. They are offering some models with upgraded steel, but they have a 420 following that will likely last a long time. They make good knives with good prices using good steels. Most any Buck will last longer than you will live, so why not just buy the models with 420 that you like now, and not stress about it?

I do not mean anything sarcastic or offensive by my post. I simply don’t get wanting to abandon a brand you like for a ‘potential’ change. FWIW I would never try to tell someone what they should buy or carry.
 
DDDWho said:
IMO 420HC is on its way out. D2 is better and less expensive than 440HC. Buck will follow the money and that’s in super steel but not my money
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So you have been perfectly fine with Bucks 420HC, but can no longer buy it now because those who set trends in the knife community/ industry have basically declared that it sucks by today's arbitrary standards?
I hardly pay attention to steel types, but I remember D2 ( because it's an easy name to remember) being touted on some not so cheap knives 16 years ago, and now it's becoming the defacto blade steel for $20-$40 Chinese budget knives.
It's qualities haven't changed and neither have the common cutting tasks, but opinions of it and expectations in a knife have.

It's funny that people say 420hc is a junk budget steel or will trash a knife over ##$ if it has a 420hc blade because the arbitrary standards say you should be getting a " better " steel. Well I just spent over $150 on a little Buck 505 from the custom shop and guess what, I didn't pay extra for a so called steel " upgrade " like the arbitrary standards would tell me I should.

Bucks 420HC isn't going anywhere, their standard blades aren't broke and will never need fixing.
Your collection of knives are not obsolete just because new steels exist, it's all a matter of whether you care about the arbitrary standards or not.
 
I maintain that Buck's 420 is pretty super in its own right. Sure, you can't cut fifty bazillion linear miles of cardboard between sharpenings, but that's not one of my top priorities when it comes to knife selection... Being able to slap a working edge back on when I'm not near my diamond hones however, is.

It's not like there aren't options available for someone who wants something a little sexier on paper either. I have/have had knives from Buck in s30v, s35vn, 5160, and magnacut. All of them have been/are excellent.
 
DDDWho said:
IMO 420HC is on its way out. D2 is better and less expensive than 440HC. Buck will follow the money and that’s in super steel but not my money
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D2 is better than 420HC for . . . what? It's better at holding an inferior edge for a longer time than 420HC holds a sharper edge, but that's about it. In other aspects such as corrosion resistance and toughness, 420HC is better than D2 by a considerable margin. I would take 420HC over D2 for a knife any day.

Also, since you started the topic by talking about super steels . . . D2 is in no way a super steel. It's primitive and limited in comparison to most super steels.
 
A big part of the fun of collecting and using knives is exploring steels. So far my collection includes S30V, S35Vn, S110V, D3, D2, 12C27, 1070, 5160 (kukri, maybe forged from a leaf spring),1080/4, 1095, 1095 Cro Van/Carbon V, 52100, CM154, CPM-154, and humble but under-rated 420HC. It's hard to go wrong with Buck's 420HC knives and I suspect it will be around for a long time.
 
beeinak said:
Most any Buck will last longer than you will live
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Agreed. I am middle aged. Unless I get stuck on a deserted island where all I do is cut cardboard and sharpen knives all day, I do not envision ever wearing out any of my current knives in D2, 420HC, S30V, or 154CM. They all serve a purpose and do what I need them to do. My current knife usage does not justify the need for the newest, latest, greatest steel. I don't really have any complaints and I don't view sharpening as a burdensome chore. My current tools are getting the job done and I don't see a need to "upgrade" just because a new steel might be better.
 
DDDWho said:
As my 50 year collection of Buck knives gets obsoleted by super steel I’ve become disheartened. I’m not that keen on super steel mainly because of price and I’m not convinced it’s that much better. My 400 series steels have served me well. I’m not interested in more 420HC steel because I feel it’s going bye bye. My interest in Buck is waning. I refuse to pay for super steel and I’m bullheaded enough to find a new favorite brand. Go ahead, beat me up I’m ready.
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so what brand are ya going to that doesn't play in various steels ya dont like? gec I guess. victorinox or mora maybe? most of the rest play in the steels ya dont like, even case.......
 
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