Bg42 vs. Cpm154

S

SteelSnob

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Sep 7, 2009
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I must admit that I love CPM154 for it's ability to take a fine edge and hold it very well.

For those who don't know I'm not talking about 154CM.

A question for you steel afficianados who tried both.

How is BG42 compared to CPM154(or other steels) in terms of the edge it takes? You can list how you feel they stack up in their other properties but my main concern is the edge they take.

I have a couple BG42 knives that I'm hesitant to reprofile because I don't know I'll be in for a all nighter.
 
It seems that there is almost uniform praise these days for CPM 154 and its properties. I'm a fan of BG42, but I've read several knifemakers stating that its a bear to grind. From the older Sebenza's I've tried, I do know that sharpening the stuff takes some effort.

If an interesting blade shows up in CPM154, I'll probably try it.
 
It sounds like you are asking 2 different questions. What kind an edge will it take. And how easy it is to reprofile.

Any modern alloy steel that has lots of carbides and a lot of wear resistance is going to be hard to reprofile. The final edge the steel gets and how fine and sharp it is really doesn't say much about how hard it will be to grind. Some steels take a more toothy edge and some a real fine polished edge more easily but both can be hard to grind.

I would say it is a pretty safe assumption that any steel with good edge retention is going to be reprofiled easiest with a good diamond stone. Diamonds will cut any steel without too much trouble. Some of the other abrasives might wear more than the steel does depending on the steel and how many super hard carbides are present. When the stone is wearing quicker than the steel you are going to be in for a pretty big headache.
 
SteelSnob said:
I must admit that I love CPM154 for it's ability to take a fine edge and hold it very well.

For those who don't know I'm not talking about 154CM.

A question for you steel afficianados who tried both.

How is BG42 compared to CPM154(or other steels) in terms of the edge it takes? You can list how you feel they stack up in their other properties but my main concern is the edge they take.

I have a couple BG42 knives that I'm hesitant to reprofile because I don't know I'll be in for a all nighter.
Click to expand...

I would say same. Test results is just a bit better for BG42 but statistically they are same (I am talking about both steel being heat treated by Paul Bos - two Buck 110 were tested side by side).

Thanks, Vassili.

I am not sure, but both steel are easy to sharpen - you may check if you do sharpening correct. I can make any blade whittle hair in much less time then overnight.
 
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