Broken BG42 tip, need opinions

hoopster

hoopster

Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Messages
4,186
Due to an unfortunate and tragic event I lost the tip of my BG42 Military. It's only about 1/16" and I was able to sharpen it back into a very nice tip, comparable to a Sage or Caly tip but not quite needle like as it was. Of course, it's 1/16" shorter as well which somewhat negates the Military's advantage as an EDC.

This BG42 Military was not a mint collector piece or anything, just my main EDC mostly because I love the carbon fiber.

My question; I have a Camo S30V military for sale with a like new blade on it, would you swap blades and sell the Camo military with shortened BG42 blade at a discount, keeping the new S30V blade with the carbon fiber handles, or just live with the tip compromised?

I guess one of the deciding factors for me would be the difference between the two steels. If S30V is as good or better than BG42 it may be a no brainer.
Thanks for listening. :(
 
If you choose to swap the blades, make sure you swap the locking liner as well. Just so I clearly understand, you sharpened out the broken point, rather than removing material from the spine down to a point? Just checking.
 
ChapmanPreferred said:
If you choose to swap the blades, make sure you swap the locking liner as well. Just so I clearly understand, you sharpened out the broken point, rather than removing material from the spine down to a point? Just checking.
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Yes, I sharpened up as opposed to removing material from the spine. It really turned out well and is hard to tell unless you compare it to a new Military. I really found the needle sharp tip handy though.
 
Hoop,
Do you have a picture of the bg ground down? Id keep it as you wont find too many more. I do think BG42 is better than s30v.
 
Sorry hoopster, but I'm confused. You're ready to give up on a Military over 1/16 of an inch?

DSCF0605.jpg
 
RevDevil said:
Hoop,
Do you have a picture of the bg ground down? Id keep it as you wont find too many more. I do think BG42 is better than s30v.
Click to expand...

Good advice. I tried to take a picture and realized it's not as bad as it seemed. BG42 on left, S30V on right. I did a pretty good sharpening job if I say so myself, it really looked bad at first.
DSC01296.jpg
 
Do not sell that knife Hoopster. You own a fine cutting tool there. Nice repair too, looks really clean.
 
RevDevil said:
Do not sell that knife Hoopster. You own a fine cutting tool there. Nice repair too, looks really clean.
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Thanks, I guess I can live with it. I knew when buying Military's that the tip could break, I just never Imagined I'd do it so soon and stupidly. Now I don't have to worry so much since it's already done. :D

TLR sold it to me ( http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=786991 ) and he'd probably kick my butt if he knew how I snapped it. It was definitely one of my dumber moves.
 
Hoopster, good repair job. Now it's broken in you can go ahead and use it hard as it was meant to be. The BG42 version is still my favorite of all of them, not counting the M4 knifeworks run, which is like a completely different knife.

I still grab up knives in BG42 whenever possible at gunshows etc. I really like it for a stainless steel.
 
hoopster said:
Good advice. I tried to take a picture and realized it's not as bad as it seemed. BG42 on left, S30V on right. I did a pretty good sharpening job if I say so myself, it really looked bad at first.
DSC01296.jpg
Click to expand...

That's a well-done repair job.

Now that's you've taken the newness out of it you'll be able to use it hard without worrying. Think of it as the first scratch on a new car.
 
elkins45 said:
That's a well-done repair job.
Click to expand...

Thanks, it was all done on DMT diamonds. I went from coarse (325) to fine (600) and then finished with x-fine (1200). It's not perfect but I figure I'll get it even nicer the next time it needs a sharpening. The rest of the edge is still the factory bevel best I can tell.
 
Heck, just another trip to the grinder for Grandpa! :D

Looks really good, wouldn't do anything but use and enjoy that baby.
 
hoopster said:
Thanks, I guess I can live with it. I knew when buying Military's that the tip could break, I just never Imagined I'd do it so soon and stupidly. Now I don't have to worry so much since it's already done. :D

TLR sold it to me ( http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=786991 ) and he'd probably kick my butt if he knew how I snapped it. It was definitely one of my dumber moves.
Click to expand...

I was going to buy that one, I renmember it well. The tip was slightly discolored (like a grinder burn). That might have thrown the HT off kilter near the tip, causing it to snap.
 
It looks like you did an excellent job. I would keep it as is.
 
RevDevil said:
I was going to buy that one, I renmember it well. The tip was slightly discolored (like a grinder burn). That might have thrown the HT off kilter near the tip, causing it to snap.
Click to expand...

I have serious doubts that the heat treat had anything to do with it although it could have. I was flicking it open while driving and for some dumb reason put my hand on the wheel and flicked it open again. That time the tip hit the windshield hard. So hard I thought I might have damaged the glass. When I looked at the knife I was disgusted with myself but I guess that's what I get.
As you may know, tile, glass, granite and similar materials impart quite a shock to steel so I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing would have happened with any Military tip.

The tip was not near as bad as TLR described, I was very pleased when the knife arrived.
 
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