Spyderco Military BG-42: Who knew?

I've never seen a comprehensive BG-42 vs. S30V comparisom - same bevels vs. different steels under controlled circumstances - done.

My 'rake handle' test simply indicates 'acceptable' edge-holding - not a quantitative test at all. Two pointings is not quantitative in the slightest, purely a crude relative go/nogo (edge damage or not) impression.

The 'revelation', for me, was simply ease of sharpening for a 61-hardness steel in the same 'premium steel' family as S30V, VG10, D2, ATS34 and 440V/S60V.

Such a really quantitative test is best left for folks such as Phil Wilson or Cliff Stamp.
 
gud4u said:
The 'revelation', for me, was simply ease of sharpening for a 61-hardness steel in the same 'premium steel' family as S30V, VG10, D2, ATS34 and 440V/S60V.
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That is relatively interesting. I'd be interested in comments after extended use.

-Cliff
 
Interesting! I have a SOG in BG-42 and I love the steel but as far a sharpening goes, I have never run into anything that produced such tenacious burrs.
 
Excellent rview!

Cliff/Yuhuza, (not wanting to steal the thread) my SOG X-42 has RC-60 marked on the blade; yours is probably the same. It hones superbly with standard ceramic rods to a spooky sharp edge. Resembles more of a convex edge than any production grade bevel I've ever seen. Haven't needed to take it to the stones yet. For the $70 I spent for it, I wish had 2 ... :D
 
I have the hard BG42 from SOG at RC 62 and don't have any trouble sharpening it with Diamonds from DMT, Spyderco bench stone in ultra fine, and loaded strop.

Most times I leave it, along with some of my other knives unpolished.

I have a custom from a local maker that swears it's at RC 58 from Paul Bos. I really don't notice any large difference :'0 Joe
 
Most times I leave it, along with some of my other knives unpolished.
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I've found that, for touch-up sharpening, stropping produces a duller edge. Two passes per bevel with the little Spyderco DoubleStuff ceramic hone really puts a crisp edge on my blade.

Is that the same BG42 steel as used on the SOG Recondo?
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Same steel - but almost certainly different heat-treat. Not to imply either SOG or Spyderco blade is better, but unless these makers farm out the heat-treating to the same company, there will be differences in final blade characteristics.

http://www.timken.com/products/specialtysteel/engineering/Sheets/Bearing_Gear/BG42_Bearing.pdf
 
Loaded strop - which compound?
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HandAmerican soft (red) leather strop with CrO. I suspect edge-rounding of the narrow micro-bevels. No matter how carefully I sneak up on the stropping angle, I just can't produce the really crisp sharp edge produced by the DoubleStuff ceramic hone.

The difference in edge quality is revealed in newsprint slicing (the softer hiss of a really sharp edge).
 
For optimal performance on such steels you generally want a harder compound, boron carbide or diamond. I can see improvement over 1200 DMT + 0.5 micron green, on S30V, but you lose aggression fast for small gains in push cutting ability. I am curious if the same is true for the harder compounds which should be able to cut the carbide directly.

-Cliff
 
I guess I should try some BC and/or diamond powders.

ThomBrogan and friends report excellent results with BC, even including efficient burr-cutoff.

Yuzuha says the better performance of these compounds is due to their hardness.
 
Does anyone know if they are going to come out with a Combo Edge version of the CF Military? I am close to purchase a black blade combo edge G10 model and at $80 cheaper than the CF handled model, its hard to justify the extra cost. I am buying it for my collection, not for use so blade material and handle grip factors are not as important. I'd hate to lose a knife this nice so it won't be carried. Have an Endura with bent tip for that, lol. Thanks guys.
 
Ever since CPM S30-V hit the show rooms, I thought the departure it seemed to force on BG 42 was surprising. Maybe we'll see a return as I personally was never convinced that S30-V was the superior of the two for cutlery. It would really be interesting to see if Crucible could create a CPM BG-42, or a version of it as BG-42 is a blend from a competitor I believe. I've noticed a keen interest for Sebenzas in the BG-42 steel of late in seeming preference to S30-V.
 
GELADEN, Take a look at CPM 154 and I think you will have what you want. Same general chemistry as ATS 34/154CM and BG42. They added some propriatary amounts of vanadium and some nitrogen. I have been using it at RC 62 with good results. Phil
 
True for me with the Sebenza. I have both the BG-42 and S30V large versions, and frankly I prefer the BG-42. It seems to take a keener edge and keep it just as long as the S30V. Of course Reeve runs his S30V at around RC58 or so, and the BG-42 was run at RC59-60.

Don't get me wrong. I am not one who knocks S30V. It works well for me since most of my cutting chores involve slicing over push cutting, and S30V works well for that. Even so, I want one of these Spydercos in BG-42. I wish makers and manufacturers used it more often. I have not tried CPM154 yet. Sounds like it may be a winner too.
 
Phil Wilson said:
GELADEN, Take a look at CPM 154 and I think you will have what you want. Same general chemistry as ATS 34/154CM and BG42. They added some propriatary amounts of vanadium and some nitrogen. I have been using it at RC 62 with good results. Phil
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CPM154 contains NO Vanadium.
 
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