Author Topic: Buck Tempest or SOG Flash II??  (Read 717 times)

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Offline Bama76

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Buck Tempest or SOG Flash II??
« on: December 25, 2004, 05:48:09 PM »
I lost my Kershaw Leek squirrel hunting the other day. I liked it because it introduced me to assisted opening type knives (NO looking back now) but for reasons all my own I want to try another brand. I've narrowed it down between these two. The Buck is the 'perdiest' the SOG is more straight forward and a tiny bit cheaper. All in all I can't decide and I don't know enough about knives to get into types of steel although the Kershaw I had would sharpen up nicely even in my novice hands. What kind of steel was it? The knife will be used as a general purpose work/play/everyday  knife.
Thanks for any help or opinions.

Mike

Offline Joel

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Buck Tempest or SOG Flash II??
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2004, 06:34:12 AM »
Your Leek uses a stainless steel known as 440A; not the world's greatest steel but still not all that bad for casual, everyday use.  The SOG uses AUS-8 stainless which is a Japanese modified version of 440B stainless. The modification includes adding a touch of Vanadium which acts as a hardener and grain refiner(smaller grains mean stronger steel).  It's a better steel than 440A or standard 440B, since it will hold an edge longer, but is still not hard to sharpen.  The BUCK uses a steel they call 420HC which is not a real name(they made it up......there is a 420 steel, but not 420HC).  There are about 10 kinds of 420 steel, some of which don't really  qualify as steel due to their low carbon content, and others which barely qualify as steel.  420 is popular with knife manufacturers because it's available in hugh rolls/sheets; therefore cheap to buy. It's easy to stamp and shape; therefore cheap to manufacture blades with.  It's junk.  It's hard to tell which version the manufacturer is sticking you with, but none of them are really worth a hill of beans except in a couple of areas,i.e. dive knives and filet knives come to mind.  I've a couple of jack knives with that steel that were given to me as gifts, and they can't hold an edge at all, except when used in the lightest tasks.  The SOG gets my vote just based on the steel.  Never used one so can't say more than that.

Offline dougk

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Buck Tempest or SOG Flash II??
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2004, 10:08:01 AM »
Joel,
what do you know about A2 steel?  My two main cleaning knives have that steel.
Thanks,
Doug

Offline Joel

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Buck Tempest or SOG Flash II??
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2004, 07:59:10 PM »
One of my two personal "camp knives", which means good sized suckers is made from A-2.  I flatground it out of 5/16" stock and it comes with a 6" blade, 1 1/2" wide.  The scales(handles) are black canvas Micarta with loveless bolts holding them on.  It's my favorite big carry knife.  A-2 takes a great edge and holds it, as best as I can tell, about the same as ATS-34.  Strong steel....I ground a lot of distal taper into my blade so the steel around the point(it's a drop point) is only a few thousandths thick.  I've bent the tip some on one occassion, but never broke it.  Cris Reeves who makes world famous survival/ take any punishment knives uses A-2.  He's been awarded best factory knifemaker Lord knows how many times.  I think you get my drift.