Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades 1095 vs 420HC, coatings, ESEE questions

Blade guys of the fire...

What's your preference between 1095 and 420HC and why?
Looking at ESEE Izula II and the Buck 113 Skinner.
Not really an either/or type purchase, just both caught my eye. Really like the Izula II.

Also, I usually steer clear of blades that are coated. I just figured they would gum up a Lansky or other sharpening systems.
But they are fairly common and all Izula IIs are coated. (I'm assuming b/c it's 1095.) Would this be a deal breaker for you?

Would one of these be far better suited as a pure skinning knife over the other?

Thanks

Google is your friend........

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search...F-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

I'm not a knife-maker, metallurgist, bushcrafter or hard use guy, but if it was me, 1095. I also happen to like a patina on a knife.

Just sayin'

GWB

I have a izula II and its one of my favorite knives. I clean fish and birds with it and I'm sure it would skin just fine. the 1095 on an esee seems to hold an edge better than the 1095 on a becker knife, must be the heat treat or something. I have had zero problems with the coating and sharpening but all I have done in 2 years is strop it. its razor sharp out of the box and the micarta scales are very grippy when wet. Great knife with the best warrenty ever. its my favorite fixed blade production knife.

Many guys are stripping the coating and pollishing the blade on izulas. Some are even making custom wood scales. I was thinking a blued blade with checkered cocabola scales would be nice.

Either, depending. My county lockup shiv type ground from a broken Old Hickory (only broke one I ever saw) is fine and sharp in 1095, but the Buck Pathfinder I used in the kitchen and every other place was fine and sharp in 420HC when I gave it away. Buck does well by you also if you break one, so I have heard.

Apples to oranges blade designs. WTF do you want the blade to do?

I have an Old Timer that is nearly identical to the Buck 113 and I love it. BUT, mine is 1095. I don't care for the 420 Buck uses. If that same blade is available in 154CM or S30v or similar I'd be more interested. I can't begin to tell you what that little knife of mine has been used on but I've had to have the original sheath resewn twice.

Of the two, I'd pick the Izula.

a lot depends on who made the knife. Between the two, I'll take 1095, and Rowen, who makes the ESEE knives, is the best in the business. The coating is not an issue when sharpening. The coated part of the blade never touches the sharpener.

Just looked, Buck offers the 113 with the S30v for a little extra. That choice would change mine.

1095 all day. I have tons of knives in 1095. Many do it well. My 2 Rowens are very good, as stated.

But 420 ain't bad. Especially if done by Buck, or the first U.S. company who started using SS----that being Queen. Others are okay as well, like Case and Gerber, but Queen's is as good as gets, and Buck's 420 has earned quite a good reputation as well. Easy to sharpen, REAL rustproof.

My Buck 105 has cleaned a couple dozen critters and still going strong. IMO the Queens will take a bit keener edge......