SG2 steel Red Flag!

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OregonEdge

OregonEdge

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Aug 13, 2005
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Man, I have loved everything about the JYD2's SG2 blade until today... and I don't want to write it off yet. Also, be aware that is was an XXX SG2 blade with an ever so slight uneven grind being the only problem. I took it up to the mountains with my son today, and needed to whittle some sticks and small branches for a snowman. I did some light chopping into less than 1/2" thick branches and warped the edge slightly. I noticed the problem when I got home. This blade has a super thin hollow grind, and in this case, it was too thin to hold up to any light chopping. The blade will continue to be a fun user, but I am not a real heavy user... so any survival and outdoor types please be aware that this might not be the best steel.
 
The SG2 blade is definitely not meant for anything other than slicing/cutting. As you mentioned the grind is really thin (compare it to a regular JYD II). Also the 410 on the outside is fairly malleable, this has the pontential for making it a bit on the bendy side if used for something other than slicing. Don't forget this blade was aimed at the darksiders that really wanted a really fine cutting edge.
 
kneedeep said:
The SG2 blade is definitely not meant for anything other than slicing/cutting. As you mentioned the grind is really thin (compare it to a regular JYD II). Also the 410 on the outside is fairly malleable, this has the pontential for making it a bit on the bendy side if used for something other than slicing. Don't forget this blade was aimed at the darksiders that really wanted a really fine cutting edge.
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yeah, I just wasn't thinking... which is easy with a blade that seems to always stay sharp :)
 
Sorry to hear that, OE. Hope you at least had a good trip with the kids in the mountains.

Cheers,
jon
 
I just got one of these Titanium JYD II's with the SGT2 blade and I'm also concerned about the super thin hollow grind. If I accidentally bugger up the blade, will I be able to get an SG2 replacement blade or will I have to settle for a Sandvik 13C26 replacement?
 
I was able to fix the warp.... which was very easy to do. straight as an arrow now. But the fact that it was so easy to fix tells me a lot about what I can and cannot do with this blade. I blame myself alone for doing too much with this steel, but I am a little taken back that it warped on just a few small chops to branches. Not like I tried to chop kindling or abuse it. I just wanted to let people know that they need to watch it... because this steel performs amazing but only for certain applications.
 
:cool:
OregonEdge said:
I was able to fix the warp.... which was very easy to do. straight as an arrow now.
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:cool:...hmmm...I think the fact that you were able to "fix" the warped blade so quickly worries me more than the fact that you "warped" it.....:eek:...that 13C26 ain't lookin' too bad at all now...:cool:
 
This is simply too high of a quality knife to believe that this should be the accepted standard for the production quality for this knife. If it is then I think an explanation is warranted. Even a hollow ground knife should not have been as easily damaged as it appears to have been by just cutting some branches. Sounds to me like there should be a red flag on the production side of this knife. I sincerely doubt that a disclaimer accompanied the knife that identified what the knife was intended for ... for the knife to be bent as easily as it apparently was and then to be restored by the user implies that, quite possibly, the 410 wasn't applied properly/was of the wrong temper when it was/or of the incorrect thickness. I'd send it back with a letter to warranty repair and request a replacement.

Happy Holidays!

NJ
 
I want to clarify a couple things.

1. The warp was only to the exposed SG2 portion of the blade within 1/8" of the cutting edge. So, I'm not sure what the warp says or does not say about the outer laminate steel.

2. As I mentioned before... this was an XXX blade, which indicates a cosmetic blemish at the factory which amounted to a tiny uneven grind. But you have to really know what you are looking for to even notice it... and I'm not sure if this could have any effect on the integrity of the cutting edge.

3. I'm not intending to send it back unless requested by Kershaw, because I really don't care, and this doesn't affect my high opinion of Kershaw or their knives. This is an obscure steel and I didn't know enough about it.

4. The quantities of this knife are tiny compared to a regular production knife, but I would question this type of blade on a knife that is obviously a utility design. Perhaps something closer to what we see for ZDP knives... a fine cutting knife like WH or an SG2 Leek would be cool ;) I just let the hefty look and nature of this knife get ahead of me.
 
Thats dissapointing. Now that i just got two standard model JYD II for X-mas. I was planning on getting one SG2 as a weekend warrior. Not anymore untill i hear what kershaw has to say. Still hands down an amazing company, and JYD II is my favorite knife currently. Any way, point being, Im very surprised.
 
For what it's worth I've chopped and batoned with my G10 / 13C26 JYD 2 and the blade was fine afterwards.
 
OregonEdge said:
3. I'm not intending to send it back unless requested by Kershaw, because I really don't care, and this doesn't affect my high opinion of Kershaw or their knives.
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trimcut123 said:
Thats dissapointing. Now that i just got two standard model JYD II for X-mas. I was planning on getting one SG2 as a weekend warrior. Not anymore untill i hear what kershaw has to say. Still hands down an amazing company, and JYD II is my favorite knife currently. Any way, point being, Im very surprised.
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:cool:...These are the statements that tell the tale...There has never been a knife company that made 100% "Never Fail" knives...not yet anyway...LOL...Kershaw is a terrific knife and a terrific knife company. They'll fix ya up OE...no doubt about it...and I'll still be lookin' for my next Kershaw...:thumbup::thumbup:
 
absolutely.... I sing the praises of Kershaw daily and will continue. I just wanted to raise the flag before others, who spent more than I did on this knife, get carried away and do more serious damage than I did. I just wanted to help add definition to the uses of this steel. Hopefully those on here see my input as constructive. ;)
 
Can you please, measure thickness of the blade, so we may compare is it same as on regular knives or not. May be it is XXX and you grinds are uneven because it was produced with too thin blade?

If so - then we do not have to worry about this. However, I will not chop with such knife wood anyway.

Thanks, Vassili.

P.S. It was marked as XXX after all and uneven grind may indicate that it was too much grind from one side, which make blade thinner and overheat it also, because not too much metal to absorb friction heating. To verify this can you please check thickness as precise as possible?
 
I was thinking that SG2 will chip, but not bend, in case of abuse. Anybody know this particular knife SG2 HRC?
 
OregonEdge said:
absolutely.... I sing the praises of Kershaw daily and will continue. Hopefully those on here see my input as constructive. ;)
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*Cringing at the thought of OE singing* I was wondering why dogs run away from my computer when you post :D.
Your input is always constructive, OE. I have the same knife you do, right down to the factory second identification. I have also done some light chopping with it ( ½" dowel rod) and it was fine. the only limited conclusion I can come up with is that some seconds are blade quality issues while others are purely cosmetic. But I say that with some hesitation because IIRC, Tim Galyean had posted that all blades purchased at the sale with XXXX on the blade would still fall under regular warranty rules. I'd post the link but I can no longer do searches.
When you say the blade warped, do you mean the blade was twisted in a different direction, or the edge itself?

Rik
 
I very much doubt that this has anything to do with the steel, but rather with the grind. And the grind was made so thin because the steel supports an edge this thin. Just goes to show: never use a slicer to chop and never use a chopper to slice. Nothing to do with the steel.

No surprise that the regular JYD held up fine. Nothing to do with the steel, it is ground differently (and from the pictures I've seen, significantly different).
 
HoB said:
No surprise that the regular JYD held up fine. Nothing to do with the steel, it is ground differently (and from the pictures I've seen, significantly different).
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The JYD 2 was reprofiled. I've done the same with large Opinels and they held up fine, and I'd guess they're ground thinner than the Ti JYD2. Same with my Byrd Cara Cara reprofiled flat to the primary bevel for an inclusive angle under 15 degrees before microbevel. I've never used the steel this JYD uses but this type of behaviour does seem odd, even if its using the knife outside of its design intentions.
 
It is funny you mention that it is marked XXX for being "slightly assymetric".
I recently gota 1725SG2 from a internet dealer, not marked XXX. The blade is so badly assymetric even a non-knifeaholic friend noticed it.:eek:
Matter of fact, I have 5 Kershaw knive, every one of them is noticably assymetric.
Black Boa
Random Task
Black Leek
Junk Yard Dog I
Junk Yard Dog II Ti/SG2
I have begun wondering if Kershaw knows hiow to make a symetric grind.
Also know I will not be purchasing another Kershaw anytime soon.
 
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