Why Doesn't BUCK Grow Beyond 420HC?

cotdt said:
That chart doesn't mention toughness, something 420HC is superior in. AUS-8 should be pretty tough as well. The chart is obviously Buck's heat treatment of the steels. AUS-8 should have better edge retention than 420HC if heat treated harder.
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You missed the point. AUS8 will have better edge retention than Buck 420HC if both are taken to the same hardness (Theory says so. My testing confirmed it to me.) .

There is probably a hardness for AUS8 at which Buck 420HC at its standard hardness will have better edge retention. I do not know what hardness that is, but the AUS8 would have to be significantly softer than Buck's 420HC for the 420HC to outperform it in edge retention.

I can't believe I am posting in this thread again.
 
Confederate said:
I got my new Cabela's catalog today and saw some of Buck's new offerings. They have some beautiful (and expensive) knives out, with very attractive handles and blade shapes and styles. But in the end, regardless of how many hundreds of dollars the knives may go for, the same 420HC Buck flagship steel is used, and it's getting a bit tiresome.

Why doesn't Buck use premium steel in its premium knives??? No matter what sort of a decorative handle a Buck Vanguard may have, or how nicely etched a blade or how beautiful the turquoise is in a handle, it still gets back to the blade, doesn't it? And we all know Buck is adept in making S30V steels, so why wouldn't they use them in these gorgeous knives they offer for the...ummm...big BUCK$?

I love the Buck designs, the chipflint blades, the Gen-5 skinners and many of their other limited edition knives, but frankly, I feel that 420HC is getting a bit long in the tooth. What's your take?

Buck%20Chipflint%20Kalinga%20401LE.jpg


This Buck Kalinga sells for $500. So why is the blade only 420HC?
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Picture sayes as a 1000 words! It's pity that Buck don't use 440c anymore.
 
cotdt said:
That chart doesn't mention toughness, something 420HC is superior in. AUS-8 should be pretty tough as well. The chart is obviously Buck's heat treatment of the steels. AUS-8 should have better edge retention than 420HC if heat treated harder.
Click to expand...


420HC is very tough.
 
I hope more manufacturers use 420HC or 12C27.They hold decent edges and tough.Tactical knives with high carbide volume steels are easier to break under abuse.
 
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