The Steel choice, BG-42 & ATS-34

[Gator97]

Basically my question is to Strider Team, why the ATS-34? To be more correct, on Strider website, that was redesigned resently, congratulations, very well done

, in the techspecs section you say:
Other steels are available, such as BG-42. However, at this time we find ATS-34 to be exceptional and consistent steel for our purposes.
From what I have learned so far, ATS-34 has 3 different heat treatements methods, each optimizing different quality of the steel, such as wear resistance, toughness.
Considering Strider knives name, I assume Strider does good job on the heat treatement, donno what sort of treatement, but I assume you know what you do.
Yet, from all other sources I've seen, BG-42 is claimed to be a superior steel. Eg. CRKT. I understand there's no super steel & depending on the intended use (& may be manufacturing issues too) different steel can be the best choice, so could someone tell a little bit more about the steel choice? Is it related to Strider knives specifics, like design, purpose, etc? Manufacturing process? Something else?

Besides my curiosity I have quite practical reason to ask, which is I would like to order a custom Strider blade, so before I make a choice I want to know

Considering that my experience with production ATS-34 blades was not really impressive...



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[Mick Strider]

Okay then...
ATS-34 and BG-42 are basically the same alloy. The difference being that BG has a few points of Vanadium and a little more (very little) carbon. The Vanadium, on paper, is awesome. Vanadium carbides are much harder than Molybdenum carbides. On smaller pieces, this is great. Now when I say smaller pieces, what I mean is that knives which are meant for light use, with a very thin cutting edge, work very well when made of BG. They hold an edge longer. On larger blades (field knives) you can't tell the difference. Well, I can't. And I'm pretty good at things like that. If I take a blade made of BG, one of ATS and one of 154CM. All equally ground, I can't tell the difference. So...here's where we're at right now; we use ATS on our .250 thick knives and BG on our .190 thick knives.

Our heat treat process is proprietary, so I won't tell you about it, but it works quite well. I don't think you'll have any dissatisfaction with it. If so, there is always that unconditional guarantee.

Talk to you soon,

Mick

 

[Gator97]

Thanks for the explanation

Our heat treat process is proprietary, so I won't tell you about it, but it works quite well

I know it's proproetary, like I said given your reputation I assume it's very good.

I don't think you'll have any dissatisfaction with it. If so, there is always that unconditional guarantee.
Very nice. Don't get me wrong. I wasn't trying to put down your ATS-34. Just there'a always better.

P.S. BTW are any other steels an option or so far it's those 2?




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Alligator