3 carbon military steels: BG42, M390 or s90V. Which one to pic?

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Dec 2, 2005
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If you would have the possibility to get either one, which would you choose?:confused:
 
my only experience is with m390, I'm curious to see where this goes, well if you do want to know i love m390 steel, amazingly sharp edge, it stays like that for a very long time
 
M390 is my favorite steel...although I've never used s90v, I'd still choose M390 considering the price difference and the satisfaction I get from it.
 
Mostly it's a difference of edge retention, BG-42 is about the same as VG-10 or 154cm. M390 and S90V are more in the super steel realm, with S90V 1/2 a step above M390. If they were the same Price I'd go S90V, then M390, then BG42. If not, you have to determine how much more you're willing to pay for the extra edge retention, personally I'd pay the most for S90V, but I wouldn't pay $200+ more than M390 for it though.
 
Ahh thanks for that information! I knew BG42 was the "lower" end here but I had a Police model in VG10 stainless steel (thick blade) and was not very impressed with it but to be fair, I only had the Sharpmaker back then and didn't know much about sharpening
 
Just to throw a little more mud in the water, there was a Sprint of S30V Carbon Fiber Militaries as well. Of the ones you mention, S90V is the only one I bought a back up for.
 
I tore down a bunch of boxes the other day with my M390 Military. It performed well, but not as well as my S90V Para2 did.
I'm curious how the S110V Native will perform. I'm hoping we get a S110V mule too.
 
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I'd probably take the S90V first.No question top 5 millie. It just keeps on performing.

BG42 is second. It's several steps above VG10, and 154cm performance wise IMO. It tends to get chippy at rc 63, or too low angles none of which really should bother the millie. It's one of the best all time Millies IMO. I'd say top 5. I place performance at rc 62 in the M390 level at rc 59 wear resistance wise. It is extremely clean like M390 and Elmax, so no advantage either one. Carbide size does have the advantage in the powder steel M390 but IMO you can't get the high rc's from M390 & Elmax. A powder steel BG42 ( CTS B75) at rc 62-63 should remedy the chippyness of ingot BG42 and unleash the performance potential from the composition and cleanliness and higher attainable hardness's. I like the edge it takes better than S90V, or M390. I have always thought that BG42 outperformed S30V in some respects. It gets surprisingly good wear at rc 60 to 62-63. Better than S30V at rc 59.

I could see a lot of reasons someone would choose M390 over BG42 but I'm not one.

BG42 was the only one of the Millies I bought two of so far. I'm going to try to get two mastiffwear millies if I have to starve myself all month. As long as I can get finn's stuff I'd go for it. :)

Oh yeah. I consider any of the 3 mentioned excellent and wouldn't hesitate to take any in a pinch to areas or jobs that require the best equipment available. So far the other Millies in that list are the CPM M4 ( top 5 easy), and the CPM D2, which I consider a sleeper.

Once again these are only my opinions, not some kind of consensus. Others should develop their own as I'm no expert. :)

Joe
 
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My BM 755 MPR has M390 and it is a superb blade, both thick and sharp. I have several with ZDP-189. ZDP-189, if clad with more tensile steels is a superb edge holder. I have one knife with Duratech 20 CV, which is similar to M390 in that both have a staggering 20% chromium, offering superb corrosion resistance.
 
The Mastiff said:
I'd probably take the S90V first.No question top 5 millie. It just keeps on performing.

BG42 is second. It's several steps above VG10, and 154cm performance wise IMO. It tends to get chippy at rc 63, or too low angles none of which really should bother the millie. It's one of the best all time Millies IMO. I'd say top 5. I place performance at rc 62 in the M390 level at rc 59 wear resistance wise. It is extremely clean like M390 and Elmax, so no advantage either one. Carbide size does have the advantage in the powder steel M390 but IMO you can't get the high rc's from M390 & Elmax. A powder steel BG42 ( CTS B75) at rc 62-63 should remedy the chippyness of ingot BG42 and unleash the performance potential from the composition and cleanliness and higher attainable hardness's. I like the edge it takes better than S90V, or M390. I have always thought that BG42 outperformed S30V in some respects. It gets surprisingly good wear at rc 60 to 62-63. Better than S30V at rc 59.

I could see a lot of reasons someone would choose M390 over BG42 but I'm not one.

BG42 was the only one of the Millies I bought two of so far. I'm going to try to get two mastiffwear millies if I have to starve myself all month. As long as I can get finn's stuff I'd go for it. :)

Oh yeah. I consider any of the 3 mentioned excellent and wouldn't hesitate to take any in a pinch to areas or jobs that require the best equipment available. So far the other Millies in that list are the CPM M4 ( top 5 easy), and the CPM D2, which I consider a sleeper.

Once again these are only my opinions, not some kind of consensus. Others should develop their own as I'm no expert. :)

Joe
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A B75P Mlitary in any color would be excellent. It would no doubt sell like hotcakes. I'd like to get a 52100 Mlitary as well, I'm just strange like that. I sure wouldn't be upset if Sal and Eric created a 20CV or Cruwear Mlitary either.

Back to the mainpoint, I would pick the S90V, M390, BG42 in that order.
 
i'll go with bg42 because thats the only one mentionned in the op that i dont have yet. but for me cf/s30v is a mush have too because iirc it has only one liner ... between m390 and s90v i'd choose m390for my edc, just because its easier to touchup, and has shownquite a bit more toughness at my usual (low) angles.

the cpmd2 and 440v versions are on my list too.
 
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