420 J2 stainless steel

I believe type 420 stainless is the type of steel used for most Buck knives. While they're sometimes a little hard to sharpen with a stone (diamond works well) they seem to have good edge holding properties. The only bad thing about using stainless is that it's impossible to strike a spark using a real (stone) flint.
 

Shinken

Native
Nov 4, 2005
1,317
3
43
cambs
Sorry i seemed not too helpfull mate! am at work!

As singtech says they are made of a stainless which is low in carbon so it quite tough, but wouldnt hold an edge well...
 

kb31

Forager
Jun 24, 2006
152
2
by the lakes
i've got some hibbin throwing knives and a buck
they seem alot softer to me i have not really used them as knives i just have the odd
throw they hit each other and the gound when i miss
they can take a beating i'll give them that
i would't throw 01
 

addyb

Native
Jul 2, 2005
1,264
4
39
Vancouver Island, Canada.
Combatblade,

Normally 420J2 isn't such a great steel. But if its made by Buck then the knife you are holding is an exception to that rule. Buck uses a more than adequate heat treatment and as most of their larger size folders have the "Edge 2000" system then the knife should hold quite a good edge.

I hope this helps,

Adam
 

Shinken

Native
Nov 4, 2005
1,317
3
43
cambs
You can throw 01 no problems mate, just dont throw it if its 58hrc and over (incidentally the hardness most 01 knives will be)
 

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