: SUS 420J2 Good steel for a blade?

Yep, the steel is garbage, but the Strider designs look so nice! Those knockoffs are worth maybe $10-20. :rolleyes:
 
420J2 may work for being liners of a folder, but they're way to soft to even hold a workable edge.
 
420j2 is mostly used on junk knives. I had a Colt dagger that I paid $40.00 for that was so dull I could press the edge on my arm and pull the blade without a scratch. Just about every 420j2 knife I've seen was just as bad or worse. Some I could bend with my hands. The Colt actually had ok construction and wold have been good for the money if it was in something like AUS8 or 440C. It was about as sharp as the back of a Victorinox blade. I've found Buck's 420HC to be ok, though. The fake striders sell for around $7.00 in one catalog I saw and I actually handled one. the handle is too wide for a cord wrapped handle to have a comfortable grip IMO even if it was not a POS knife. IMO it is better to go to companies like Buck, Ontario, Cold Steel, Camillus for inexpensive knives that would actually work than getting cheap knock offs.
 
420J2 if properly heat treated can take a nice sharp edge.
I have a very cheap United folder (UC1209) with such a blade.
Yeah, It's a bit soft but...The blade is actually harder than a AUS6 blade I have on mid-priced knife from a famous manufacturer.
Yes, Other more expensive Steels can have better edge retention, but, this one sharpens easily.
Have you ever seen fancy stainless knives that were a bit*h to sharpen and didn't take a keen edge?

can
 
I've seen a premium steel that takes a keen edge and it's easy to sharpen, and it's called VG-10
I can stand 420HC, but I couldn't stand 420J2
 
I have a Kershaw kitchen utility knife in 420J that works very well with fine serrations. Some dive knives are also made from it because it is so corrosion-resistant.
That said, you can get many cheap knives in 420HC, 440A or 1095 (I like the 1095 myself!)
And yes, VG-10 is terrific stainless.
 
I wouldn't use a 420J2 knife to scrape the dingleberries off my arse!

:barf:
 
Momser ?? What kind of a name is Momser ?? :p

I believe Fallkniven uses 420J2 as the outer layers with VG-10 as the core in their laminated knives. The 420J2 provides a corrosion-resistant outer layer, and protects the more brittle VG-10 on impacts.

We get into the habit here of denigrating older steels that were top-of-the-line not long ago ... I remember someone calling ATS-34 ... ahhh, excrement ... and saying he hated it. Some new steel caught his eye, and immeiately, yesterday's greatest and best became worthless. Naahhh ...

Any steel needs proper heat-treating, and a good sharp edge put on it. Then it's a knife, until then, it's very raw material. Of course there's better than 420J2, and for the price, you're better off getting cheap but not trash. But I wonder ... I've seen a couple of Gil Hibben's United user knives from 420J2. They might be reasonable working knives.
 
What amazes me about these knives is that they are made of 420J2 and still cost quite a bit of money. If I am going to pay $180.00 US for a knife it isn't going to have a blade made from 420 anything.
 
420J2 aka age hardened cheese (I could be wrong but I think that Cougar Allen invented this term)

Keith, Look what cold steel san mai III costs (it is 420J and AUS-8). Murray Carter uses 410 on outer layer of some of his knives and his knives are considered to be one of the best cutters.
 
theres nothing wrong with 420, especially if it's liner material or frame material, even for blade material it's do able. but when i think 420 i'm thinking 20 dollar knife max, i don't understand why some companies make kick ass knives with great scales and liners and 420 for blade steel and then proceed to charge over 100 dollars for it
 
Did anyone go to that Linton site? Look at the hot products. Are those prices for real? $595 for a Ka-Bar rip-off? Wow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top