Vanguard - s30v vs 420hc?

J

jdk81

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Sep 24, 2014
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I am going to be using it hunting knife. It will be expected to hold a nice edge through at least 1 deer. Will be used to gut, skin, and quarter. Will also be used on small game I would imagine. Which one of these steels will be better for my uses? I realize that the s30v is supposed to be superior steel and hold the edge longer, but is it enough longer that it would be more useful for me? I would like to be able to do 2 deer on one sharpening, but that is not necessary. Will the 420hc hold up through this?

Thanks for your help!!

also, recommend me a sharpener!!
 
jdk, Welcome. Yes, a Vanguard with S30V steel will gut, skin and quarter 2 deer when sharpened correctly. I'm not the only one here who has done this. Some others may chime in when they find this topic. DM
 
Two of my busdies just got back from a moose hunt,I lent them my alaskan guide vanguard with a rubber handle,they did two complete moose field dressed,skinned,quartered,I got the knife back today and it is still pretty sharp,definitely could do a complete whitetail before sharpening it.s30v is pretty darn good steel in a hunting knife.
 
I tried the S30V Vanguard AG from Cabellas. Simply didn't like that drop type blade.
However, I use the S30V 110 extensively for our deer doins. Have been for years now.
Typically we get about 4 to 5 done to about 2.5 to 4 using 420HC.
When I say about, its just how hard you want to go at working one up before you go to the truck and get a sharp one.
Yes,,I have several in S30V and CPM154.

As a family, we take around 10 deer a year and nearly all the field work and some of the processing back at the house is done with S30V or maybe the D-2 fixed blade build outs from a few years back.

The first time out your S30V will be ultra sharp. Then when it goes dull, may take you a while to put "your" edge on it. After that it is easy to sharpen and touch up.
 
I own both and like both. The only s30v knife I have is a PM2 and it's held up and I also have 2 Bucks with 420hc and it's held up also. I haven't been skinning deer with it but it's super easy to sharpen and stays sharp for me. I like them both. :D
 
I have another S30V Vanguard story.
The one I didn't care for in the field, went into my mothers knife drawer along with 3 other 420HC Mentor 470's. I sharpen them all up for her when ever I am there, which is most all of hunting season and several times of the year.

By far, the still sharpest is the Vanguard, when I get back there. It is also the first one she will pick over the others. Altho she will pick up the larger 470 depending on what she is cutting.

Now, I bought this Vanguard in 2005, as it has the Idaho on it. It has been in near everday use and just no telling how many times it has been run through the dishwasher. Yeah, I never told her to hand wash and dry it. For that matter the other three 470's have also been run through the dishwasher all these years.

I could shine up the brass on that Vanguard, maybe lightly oil the blade, put a nice edge on it and it will look like a new one.

They have suffered no ill effects from an 87 year old granny and all the family in the kitchen. And that dishwashing machine :D

This coming up hunting season, I plan on taking some pics of that one with mom using it.

Sorry,,just thought I would toss that out. :D
 
I'm not the greatest at sharpening knives so it's all apples and oranges to me. I'll even go on record as saying my Case Peanut CV has been a better slicer than a few of my s30v and 420hc's. Like I said, apples and oranges to me.
 
Awesome thanks for the replies! For those of you that have used it in the field: Would you prefer the rosewood handle over the rubber handle? I am not so sure that the rubber will keep good grip when bloody, and the cosmetics of the rosewood are much prettier.

Thanks!!!
 
The Vanguard I have been talking about is the model # 192 with the rubber grip. Very grippy.

Get one each! :D
 
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I really wanted the rubber-handled one when I bought my vanguard some years back, but could only find the wood-handled one locally. I bought it with wood handles, somewhat begrudgingly. I quickly changed my mind once I put it to use, and am very happy with the wood handle, although I believe mine is walnut?? It's not an AG model.


ETA: Mine is 420HC, but I would definitely take it in S30V had I the choice at the time.
 
jdk, I sharpen mine on a Norton fine India and finish it off on a coarse diamond, removing the burr. This gives good edge retention. A Norton crystalline is also a good stone. DM
 
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