420HC Steel Explained: Why Leatherman Uses It in Our Knives and Multi-Tools
When it comes to knife steel, few topics generate more debate than 420HC stainless steel. Some enthusiasts dismiss it as basic or outdated, while others swear by it for hard-use everyday carry. At Leatherman, 420HC isn’t an afterthought—it’s a deliberate choice rooted in performance, durability, and real-world use.
In this article, we’ll break down what 420HC steel is, its strengths and limitations, and why
“We carefully treat and process each component to get the best performance out of each feature.”
What Is 420HC Stainless Steel?
420HC (High Carbon) stainless steel is part of the 400-series stainless family, with chromium as its primary alloying element. The chromium content—typically around 12–14%—provides solid corrosion resistance compared to carbon steels, making it suitable for a wide range of environments.
What separates 420HC from standard 420 is its higher carbon content. That added carbon allows the steel to be heat treated to higher hardness levels, improving edge retention while maintaining the toughness that 420 steel is known for.
Just as important: 420HC is a conventionally produced stainless steel, not a powder metallurgy steel. This gives manufacturers greater flexibility to stamp, form, and machine complex parts—critical for multi-tools that integrate blades, handles, jaws, and drivers into a single system.
The Key Benefits of 420HC Steel
Exceptional Toughness
One of the standout characteristics of 420HC is its toughness. In knife terms, toughness refers to a blade’s ability to resist chipping, cracking, or snapping under stress. Compared to many popular premium blade steels, 420HC offers significantly higher toughness, making it well-suited for tools that see prying, twisting, and impact—not just slicing.For EDC knives and multi-tools that are expected to handle unpredictable tasks, toughness matters.
Solid Corrosion Resistance
Thanks to its chromium content, 420HC offers reliable corrosion resistance in most everyday and outdoor environments. With basic care, it performs well in rain, humidity, and general exposure, making it a dependable choice for users who don’t want to baby their tools.
Balanced Hardness and Edge Retention
When properly heat treated, 420HC consistently reaches 56–58 HRC (Rockwell hardness). This range represents a sweet spot: hard enough to hold an edge for daily tasks, yet soft enough to avoid brittleness.
Rather than chasing extreme edge retention at the expense of durability, 420HC prioritizes balanced performance—a key consideration for tools designed to be used, not just admired.
Easy to Sharpen and Maintain
Another advantage of 420HC is ease of sharpening. Even basic sharpening tools can quickly restore a working edge, which is especially valuable in field conditions or for users who prefer simple maintenance over specialized equipment.
Manufacturing Consistency and Value
Because 420HC is highly manufacturable, it allows for tight process control and consistency at scale. At Leatherman, this means we can precisely heat treat different components—blades, handles, jaws—based on their specific function, ensuring reliable performance across thousands of tools every day.
"From a metallurgy perspective, the 420 steels aren’t chosen for any one outstanding property, but for the ability to balance many different properties and give us a really great final product."
The Trade-Offs of 420HC Steel
No knife steel is perfect for every application, and 420HC is no exception.
- Edge retention is not its primary strength. In highly abrasive cutting scenarios, 420HC will dull faster than wear-resistant premium steels.
- Corrosion resistance, while good, isn’t best-in-class. In saltwater or marine environments, more frequent maintenance is required.
- Perception issues. Poorly heat-treated 420 steel from other manufacturers has given the steel a reputation it doesn’t always deserve. Performance depends heavily on processing—not just the steel name.
Why Leatherman Chooses 420HC
At Leatherman, steel selection is about more than specs on paper. We design tools that must perform across countless use cases—from everyday carry to outdoor work to emergency situations.
420HC allows us to deliver:
- High toughness and durability
- Consistent, repeatable performance
- Purpose-specific heat treatment for each component
- Tools that are easy to maintain over decades of use
We also rigorously test our blades and tools in-house for toughness, edge retention, and durability to ensure they meet our standards before they ever reach your pocket.
“It may surprise you, but it has over double the toughness than many blade steels, including LMAX, CPM 154, and S30V.”
Is 420HC the Right Steel for You?
If you value toughness, corrosion resistance, ease of sharpening, and real-world reliability, 420HC is an excellent choice for EDC knives and multi-tools. If your priority is extreme edge retention for highly abrasive cutting or constant exposure to saltwater, a different steel may better suit your needs.
Understanding these trade-offs helps you choose the right tool for the job—and that’s exactly what we aim to empower.
Watch the video above for a deeper dive into the metallurgy, testing, and real-world performance of 420HC steel.
