What's the steel used in these here Buck Knives...

Y

YoungCutter

Joined
Sep 17, 2001
Messages
1,218
...Particularly the 119 Special and Commander.

Any data as to elemental composition would also be nice.

Is this a good hard use steel? Why or why not?
 
Their standard production knives have 420HC blades. I once had the composition of this steel but I have misplaced it, I think it isn't too much different from 440A. I haven't used any of the current production Bucks with 420HC, most of mine were made in the 70's with a different steel, and I regularly carry a Master Series 501 with BG-42 blade. Buck does tend to harden their blades at the upper end for the alloy in question, making them good edgeholders but a little brittle for hard use like chopping or prying. It all depends what you are going to use it for.
 
As far as I know Buck uses 420HC pretty well exclusively for the blades of their knives (they do use BG42 for some special knives). If this is the case with these knives then I must say that I do not think a whole lot of this steel. IMHO it is OK and nothing more. BG42 on the other hand is a great knife steel, once again IMHO.

Chemical makeup of 420HC is: .4-.5% carbon, 12-14% chromium, .8-1.2% molybdenum, .5%max nickel, .04%max phosphorus, .03%max sulpher.

Hope this helps.
 
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