If you are a fruit lover, and indeed you find a good performing steel knife that gives a good job without confusion. For this, you will not test an all-steel knife.
The 1095 steel and 420hc steel models are the famous steel and brand you can buy for your personal use. However, we think you will read these reviews and will find all information about these two pieces of steel.
So, we have discussed all the required information so that you help to find the perfect steel-like choice. For indicating the famous steel among the market, we compare in this post these 1095 steel vs 420hc steels. After all, let’s start the review, and find the right steel for your needs.
If you’re not able to select the right knives steel, then you may check out our latest list of the steel’s here- 14c28n vs vg10.
1095 steel vs 420hc Comparison:
1. ESEE Knives 6P: Best 1095 Knives
- Overall Length: 11.75"
- Blade Length: 6.50"
- Blade Material: 1095 Steel
- Handle Material: Gray Micarta
If you search for the best quality knife from ESEE, then the 6P is a black finished blade with a plain cutting edge. The best quality knife comes with a 6.5 edge and Micarta handle. On the other hand, the knife is very ergonomic.
The knife feels comfortable and non-slip in the grap; we have chosen this knife for its high-performance features.
The knife comes with a lifetime warranty means you can use it at full potential and ask for a repair after. The following reason is a perfect size, 6 inches blade it’s just perfect, and the last reason is the toughness!
It is a high carbon knife, so you will enjoy batoning some wood with this beast! But the little beast doesn’t come along; that includes a durable carry sheath with a removable clip ready to use!
2. Gerber LMF II Survival Knife
- Originally designed to free an aircrew from a downed aircraft
- Tough enough to cut through the fuselage of an aircraft
- Purposeful break between the tang and the butt cap, providing insulated...
- Handle Material: Glass-filled nylon with TPV overmold
Who searching for professional quality knives then, the Gerber LMF II Infantry Knife is one of the best ways for you. That comes with a 4.84 drop point blade with a serrated edge, and include glass-filled nylon with TPV over mold handle and a reinforced sheath.
On the other hand, it made of stainless steel in the end of the blade that can pierce glass. The knife comes with ergonomic comfortable to handle and according to Gerber its originally designed to free an aircrew from a downed aircraft.
1095 vs 420hc Steel for Knives Complete Guide
What is 1095 Carbon steel?
1095 carbon steel knife old high carbon steel from the 10xx steel series. That is specially used for knives and blades, the first two digits of the designation refer to the main two elements used in the steel, and the second two digits represent the percentage of carbon use.
In this steel 1095, the first digit 1 refers to carbon, the second digit 0 means that there is no second main element used in the alloy, for the two last digits 95 refers to 0.95%, which gives us 0.95% of carbon.
We have also written a through buying guide with the top list of latest steel here – 440c steel vs d2.
What is 420hc steel?
The 420hc is an evolution of the 420 steel, that include with low-end stainless steel use for cutlery, custom knives, scissors and surgical tools. Most of the knives company uses these steel for professional knife. It is a professional carbon content 420 stainless steel.
However it has a wonderful carbon base and is mixed to a harder finish than 420 stainless steel, but under normal processes, falls around 55 HRC.
Buck knives are just one of the many products that are made from 420hc tough material. As from features, there are many different levels of steel. But product made from 420hc steel that are definitely different from other types of steel in terms of performance and reliability.
Is 1095 Carbon Steel Good For Knife?
The 1095 high carbon steel is old, popular steel, easy and straightforward to heat treat, good in toughness, perfect hardness with excellent edge retention, and at the same time, it comes at a reasonable price.
After all, we find the steel great for knife making, especially for beginners; it is very user-friendly, easy to sharpen, quick-tempered. On the other hand, the steel goes from for relatively sparingly to hard as a rock.
This is great steel for knife making, because these brand of steel already gained most popularity in the market.
Is 420hc steel good for knife?
For this low-end stainless steel the 420hc is wonderful steel for the low-entry knife. However the steel comes with decent edge retention, perfect corrosion resistance and it’s easy to sharpen, that’s why our answer is yes, the 420hc steel is good for knives.
These types of knives are more durable and easy to sharpen when in constant use and they’re pretty rust-resistant. On the other hand, these types of steel make them a great for some machetes.
If you’re interested, you may also checkout our top list of CPM 3V Steel.
Is 1095 Carbon Steel Easy To Sharpen?
Do you know 1095 steel can consider more brittle than other types of steel? 1095 high carbon steel is suitable for blades that are not too thin.
So, you can purchase this one without any confusion because the steel is easy to sharpen, but if a knife made with this type of steel doesn’t have a decent amount of thickness behind it. On the other hand, the steel is liable to break easily.
Is 420hc steel easy to sharpen?
Although 420hc doesn’t hold an edge well, but luckily the steels relatively stain-resistant and tough. That is easy to use and sharpen. However, there is one exception: the 420hc is produce using a proprietary heat treatment.
So, there is one of the top advantage in using 420hc steel. That is already most popularity in market for their high-quality performance and easy to sharpen. However, this is wonderful material is use for hatchets, knives.
1095 Carbon Steel Hardness
The 1095 carbon steel, this simple alloy steel, uses to make knives and swords. When you have this one, you can efficiently work with excellent results. Besides, to have straightforward heat treatment, it is recommended for beginners, although it is widely used to manufacture cutlery by professionals.
420hc steel hardness
The 420hc obtains about 57 HRC after suitable heat treatment. That is higher carbon content 420 stainless steel. However, the steel is perfect high carbon and it can brought to a higher hardness than regular 420 and should not be mistakes for it. As for professional features, Buck knives and Gerber knives use the steel extensively.
I also like to share with you out best steels list that will help you choose the right steel – 14c28n vs 440c.
1095 Carbon Steel Composition
| Materials | Quantity | Works |
| Carbon | 0.95% | Improves hardness Wear/corrosion resistance
Unfortunately a high amount of it decreases strength. |
| Manganese | 0.5% | It improves hardness and brittleness. |
| Phosphorus | 0.03% | Improve strength. |
| Sulfur | 0.05% | Improves machinability. |
420hc steel composition
| Materials | Quantity | Works |
| Carbon | 0.46 | Improves hardness Wear/corrosion resistance Unfortunately a high amount of it decreases strength. |
| Chromium | 13 % | Great for tensile strength and Edge retention. Even it enhances corrosion resistance and wear resistance |
| Manganese | 0.4 % | It improves hardness and brittleness. |
| Vanadium | 0.3% | Increases wear resistance and hardenability. |
| Silicon | 0.4 | Perfect for strength. |
1095 steel properties
| 1095 | Work |
| 3 | EDGE RETENTION |
| 2 | CORROSION RESISTANCE |
| 8 | EASE OF SHARPENING |
| 8 | TOUGHNESS |
420hc steel properties
| 420hc | Work |
| 2 | EDGE RETENTION |
| 6 | CORROSION RESISTANCE |
| 7 | EASE OF SHARPENING |
| 6 | TOUGHNESS |
1095 vs 420hc – Final Verdict
These 1095 and 420hc steels are perfect for knives and chefs. So, as a professional chef or fruit lover, all users can buy these steel to do hassle less use. The steel provides you wonderful features.
However, when you looking for a knife that will be able to resist breaking from constant jarring impacts then it might be beneficial, but for most knife uses this is not the steel to go with.
Every steel is not perfect for your kitchen use. So feel comfortable every day and enjoy perfect cutting using these 1095 vs 420hc steel.