New Favorite Steel

Nathan Ihrke

Nathan Ihrke

Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
864
Wow, just got the Spyderco Michael Walker. I had never had zdp-189 before and I couldn't be more impressed. THe blade is more like a laser than anything else. Wondering what you guys think about it and what about BG-42? I've been looking into maybe getting a Yojimbo made out of BG-42 and noticed no one really uses it, any insights?
Thanks
 
ZDP is good stuff. Just don't let it get very dull before you decide to sharpen it! Once it starts to lose that crazy laser-beam edge, time to strop! Preventative maintenance is key with ZDP, otherwise, you'll have your work cut out for you.

BG42 is great steel, lots of makers used to use it, and some still do. I think it became more difficult to get a hold of, so most makers switched over to S30V. Buck still offers custom 110s with BG-42, I think. Chris Reeve used to use BG-42, so that should tell you something about how good it is.
 
I've used it a few times and was gonna drag on some stones later since I don't have a strop. I know it has to be good with the makers that have used it in the past and the fact that Mike still uses it. I was just wondering about retention, staining, ease of sharpening and anything else that might come to mind.
 
I think that both steels (BG42 and ZDP189) are excellent at edge-holding, but can be bears to resharpen or reprofile if you let them get dull. S30V is slightly easier to resharpen (for me) but doesn't hold the edge as long. I think that BG42 is significantly more difficult for knifemakers to work with than S30V, so most of the larger producers switched over the last few years. As a user, I prefer BG42, but there is nothing wrong with S30V (or ZDP189 for that matter). They all feed my addiction from time to time.
 
Buck stopped offering BG42 in their custom shop some time back. Right now I don't know of anybody using it aside from Case in a run of small gentleman's type knives called "slim lock".
 
My Delica ZDP-189 has chipped.

The more I deal with these super steals the more I take pleasure in the cheaper steels. I actually enjoy sharpening/stropping knives.

My favorite higher end steel right now is D-2.
Second would be S-30V

The only steel I refuse to buy right now is a 154CM. I really dislike that steel.:mad:
 
moonwilson said:
ZDP is good stuff. Just don't let it get very dull before you decide to sharpen it! Once it starts to lose that crazy laser-beam edge, time to strop! Preventative maintenance is key with ZDP, otherwise, you'll have your work cut out for you.

BG42 is great steel, lots of makers used to use it, and some still do. I think it became more difficult to get a hold of, so most makers switched over to S30V. Buck still offers custom 110s with BG-42, I think. Chris Reeve used to use BG-42, so that should tell you something about how good it is.
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Hi Nathan,

Congrats on the Walker and thanx much for the support.

+1 on Moonwilson's comments.

We've been working with Carpenter Steel to get some of their version of BG-42. Based on tests on Carpenter Steels, we're looking forward to it.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
We've been working with Carpenter Steel to get some of their version of BG-42. Based on tests on Carpenter Steels, we're looking forward to it.

sal
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Oh man! Be still my beating heart!

I love BG 42. I have a couple of custom Buck 110's in it, and it's a great steel! I would love to snag an older Sebenza in it, and if Spyderco is coming out with some, I'll be waiting anxiously!

Great edge retention, easy to sharpen. What's not to like?
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Nathan,

Congrats on the Walker and thanx much for the support.

+1 on Moonwilson's comments.

We've been working with Carpenter Steel to get some of their version of BG-42. Based on tests on Carpenter Steels, we're looking forward to it.

sal
Click to expand...

Please make a Sage 2 with on a sprint run.
 
B-42 is a double melt VIM/VAR high purity steel developed for rocket and jet engines to have good strength and corrosion resistance at highly elevated temperatures. The vacuum induction melt followed by the vacuum arc remelt insured that most impurities were removed. The alloying process limited the amount of Vanadium soluble in the BG-42 to about 2%. Vanadium forms carbides that Rockwell at 82C which give the steel its superior wear resistance. BG-42 was not developed for knife blades and so was not widely available in the sizes that knife makers needed. S30V was developed for blades and was formulated using the powdered metallurgy process. This offered 3 advantages. The grain structure was finer. More Vanadium could be added (up to 12%). More user friendly sizes were offered. My motto is "Bring on the Vanadium!".
 
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