Cold Steel. No matter what steel they use I'd prefer it to 420hc. The Selkirk is a neat knife, but it is outclassed by the Master Hunter.

As an aside, I'm considering a Master Hunter in CPM3V. They've made them in a whole slew of steel types over the years.

Wow! I would have never guessed the voting would be so close. So far 9 to 8 in favor of the Cold Steel.

Much experience with the Master Hunter, but in Carbon V. Wouldn't trade it off, ever.

I really wanted to give that Buck to my new SIL at Christmas this last year. It wasn't quite as impressive in person, couple that with a nice fat Made In China etching. No sale.

It might be a danged workaholic, but it wasn't going to be a gift.

Neither, really. But that 420HC in the Buck is not a great knife steel. I'd call the bare minimum not to be junk. VG 1 ought to be a better steel. Not tons better, but some.

Seems a lot of nostalgia for Buck Knives but not this model.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Neither, really. But that 420HC in the Buck is not a great knife steel. I'd call the bare minimum not to be junk. VG 1 ought to be a better steel. Not tons better, but some.

Yeah, this is where the difference would lie for me. I've owned a handful of knives with blades made a few types of 420 steel and they all amount to wall hangers. It's not a blade steel for any kind of serious use. If I had to choose, this would make the choice for me, single-factor.

A quick read looks like VG-1 is to VG-10 what S110V is to S30v, and I've owned and used all but the VG-1. So it looks like the Cold Steel might be an alright knife. I would feel alright choosing that one if you've got to choose. My Endura FFG in VG-10 is no slouch of a blade.

Strictly on their honest merits (as they appear, and are described; haven't seen either one in person), the Cold Steel. Looks like a (good) Fallkniven F1 knockoff, and that's one of my favorite knives.