BG-42 VS CPM S30V Steel

Mike Kerins

Mike Kerins

Joined
Nov 14, 2004
Messages
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I may be opening up a hornets nest but here goes! I'm looking to buy an EDC pocket knife, preferrably with a nice titanium clip. My dillema is what type of steel to settle on. I've seen conflicting reports giving S30V the edge and others giving BG-42 the edge. The issue seems to be the degree of hardness S30V is developed for. I've read that although it has the capacity to be finished with an HRC rating of 61-62, it is actually finished at HRC 57-58, where BG-42 is finished at HRC 59-60. The speculation has been that S30V is finished at a lower HRC for ease of production. Someone please enlighten me as to the actual truth so I can make an informed decision. I want to steel that will retain an edge with every day usage, and with maximum sharpness. Ease of sharpening is not really an issue with me. If it really keeps an edge well, sharpening would be an infrequent task.
 
You'd have better luck posting in blade discussion. But before you do, to say you the trouble, do an advanced search. Type BG-42 or S30V in the search and highlight Blade discussion.

I am pretty sure this has been thouroughly discussed many times and that way you won't get told the same thing I just did :D ;)
 
Our heat treater Paul Bos would be the best guy to answer this, but he is busy setting up the new furnaces up at the ID plant. I'll give it a shot. Both steels are great for knives. S30V was designed specifically for knives and is a powdered metal so it has no grain structure. BG-42 is a bearing steel (basically a 14-4 CrMo with Vanadium added for wear resistance). Both are heat treated after they are ground, so hardness is not determined by ease of manufacture. Paul hardens them to whatever hardness will peak their performance.

Buck lists the following rockwells for best performance

S30 V 59.5-60

ATS/ BG-42 59-61

420HC 58-60

Hope that helps.

Josh

P.S. Strider uses S30V on mostly all of their products.
 
Edgeholding is affected by abrasive wear resistance and toughness (among other factors), and S30V is superior to BG-42 in both of respects assuming a proper HT. The confusion over S30V at a lower hardness comes from CRK's decision to aim for 57-58 HRC for ease of resharpening. Buck follows Paul Bos's recommendations for S30V, which is an aim hardness of 59.5-60 HRC.

Sounds like a Buck/Mayo 172 would be ideal for you. Buck does an excellent job with their HT, so you can be assured that you're getting the best balance of performance from your steel.

Edit: Josh posted as I was typing, and he got it covered.
 
[Sounds like a Buck/Mayo 172 would be ideal for you. Buck does an excellent job with their HT, so you can be assured that you're getting the best balance of performance from your steel.

This is the direction I'm leading towards but before I ordered I did some searching and ran across several articles with conflicting information. I appreciate your information.
 
Hi Mike,

IMHO both are nice steel and for EDC I don't think the selection would make a big difference. Better spend the time to choose on your favourite design and style of the knife instead. Plently of nice knives out there for you. :)

Ben
 
Mike, i have a TNT and it is a fine knife. it slices very well. i would agree with above posts, look for a knife style you like and try to handle the knife before you buy. a TNT is alot of money to spend on a knife you may end up not wanting to use. i don't have anything in BG-42, but my two in S30V hold an edge along time. search the two steels and try www.edcknives.com *author Joe Talmadge* look on FAQ section.
 
Aka Tok said:
Hi Mike,

IMHO both are nice steel and for EDC I don't think the selection would make a big difference. Better spend the time to choose on your favourite design and style of the knife instead. Plently of nice knives out there for you. :)

Ben
Click to expand...

Good advice. You wouldn't go wrong with either steel. I wouldn't get too hung up on which one to go with.
 
I have knives in both ATS 34 and BG42 from Buck and the perfomance difference is verrrry slight between them. I'd bet their S30V heattreat will be as close.
 
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