None Spyderco knife question???

[coltsfan8116]

Looking for comments on the new knife i bought for camping,Hunting-Basically something to beat around when i go camping...It is a Gil Hibben alaskan pro hunter made with 420 J2 steel......Looks to be a pretty solid knife and i picked it up for 30 shipped.....What do you guy's think about this knife?? I have no experience with 420 J2 steel, Any comments welcome;)

[uhiforgot]

Well, too many sheeple around at the moment to look up your knife, but I remember that Gil Hibben immediately brings to mind throwing knives; more specifically the one used by Steven Segal in Under Siege.

420J2 is something I usually shy away from nowadays as it doesn't hold an edge as long as some more modern steels, but it's much easier to sharpen especially if the proper tools are not available.

[KSDbass]

It seems to check out, except for the nail-nick. That's mainly just preference, but I feel like big knives shouldn't have nail-nicks, that's reserved for SAK's and smaller knives. I can't really tell you much more than that, as I've never heard of the knife, I just googled it.

[i.v]

420J2.... well I suppose it's better than having a copper blade :D

I'm not so much of a steel snob anymore (used to be), I don't shy away from AUS6 AUS8 or anything used by Victorinox but I think that 420J2 is really sub standard. I tried a 420J2 blade a couple of times and it's ridiculous, the thing would go dull while you're checking to see if it's shaving sharp :p

For the same money you can get much better knives in much better steels and you don't have to go far for it (Byrd for example).

[The Mastiff]

420j2 is used for frames and steel scales more often than blades nowadays. People have come to expect something better, but then happily buy 420HC, AUS4, etc.

The best way to do it is to try it out. If you like it, and it suits you then it's a keeper. The thing that makes me nervous is when it's a folder with 420 steel blade, what are they using for the liner? If they're making a really cheap knife, it likely has an unsafe lock up. That bothers me more than a 420j2 blade, which I could always resharpen. Fingers aren't as easy to replace. Joe