-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Vg-10, Bg-42, Ats-34...
- Thread starter WTF
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 9, 1999
- Messages
- 3,316
I'm not sure about the other steels but I read somewhere that VG-10 was developed by the Japanese for grafting knives.
IIRC, botanists and nursery people needed a blade steel that had the ability to achieve a fine enough edge so it would minimize the cellular crush damage that occurs when plants are cut for the purpose of grafting them onto other plants.
VG-10 seems to be what they were looking for.
Now, if only I can remember where I read this...
IIRC, botanists and nursery people needed a blade steel that had the ability to achieve a fine enough edge so it would minimize the cellular crush damage that occurs when plants are cut for the purpose of grafting them onto other plants.
VG-10 seems to be what they were looking for.
Now, if only I can remember where I read this...
- Joined
- Sep 23, 1999
- Messages
- 3,831
I know little. A Search under those names would turn up better results, and there is a steel FAQ here.
But, VG-10 is a European steel (Sweedish?) that is stainless and takes an aggressive edge. ATS-34 is a Japanese version of 154-CM. Crucible first came out with 154-CM in the 70s and it was sailed as the grail of stainless steel. I think it then became hard to get in knvie making sizes and/or the steel quality went down. A Japanese firm (I forget the one) made ATS and made a killing on it. It was cheap and better than the 154-CM. Crucible's new offering of 154-CM, as far as I know, is once again high quality, though the only difference between ATS34 and 154CM is where it is made, in essence.
BG-42 is a ball bearing steel, again a European steel. it is VERY clean, as it goes through a VIM-VAR process: Vacuum Induction Melt-Vacuum somethign or other Re-melt, I think. Regardless, it is a very clean steel. I think it pretty much is ATS with vanadium in it. Vanadium carbides are the secret to the latest super alloys.
I hope this helps in some way.
But, VG-10 is a European steel (Sweedish?) that is stainless and takes an aggressive edge. ATS-34 is a Japanese version of 154-CM. Crucible first came out with 154-CM in the 70s and it was sailed as the grail of stainless steel. I think it then became hard to get in knvie making sizes and/or the steel quality went down. A Japanese firm (I forget the one) made ATS and made a killing on it. It was cheap and better than the 154-CM. Crucible's new offering of 154-CM, as far as I know, is once again high quality, though the only difference between ATS34 and 154CM is where it is made, in essence.
BG-42 is a ball bearing steel, again a European steel. it is VERY clean, as it goes through a VIM-VAR process: Vacuum Induction Melt-Vacuum somethign or other Re-melt, I think. Regardless, it is a very clean steel. I think it pretty much is ATS with vanadium in it. Vanadium carbides are the secret to the latest super alloys.
I hope this helps in some way.
- Joined
- Apr 27, 1999
- Messages
- 6,117
VG-10 is a Japanese alloy. The Swedish company Fallkniven and Spyderco get their VG-10 alloy blades from Japan.
BG42 is an American alloy. Here is text from Knifeart regarding BG42 used in Chris Reeve blades.
The correct name for this steel is Lescalloyâ BG42â VIM-VAR. This is a high performance bearing steel made by Latrobe Steel Company in Latrobe, PA. A special manufacturing process combined with a very specific alloy results in a clean steel with good resistance to wear and corrosion. This type of steel is used for domestic, international and military aerospace applications. When compared with other types of steel, BG42 demonstrates superiority in areas of hardness, hot hardness, retention of hardness, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and wear resistance. The chemical makeup of BG42 is:
Carbon 1.15 Silicone 0.30
Manganese 0.50 Chromium 14.50
Molybdenum 4.00 Vanadium 1.20
The introduction of 1.2% Vanadium increases the steels toughness and edge retention.
BG42 is an American alloy. Here is text from Knifeart regarding BG42 used in Chris Reeve blades.
The correct name for this steel is Lescalloyâ BG42â VIM-VAR. This is a high performance bearing steel made by Latrobe Steel Company in Latrobe, PA. A special manufacturing process combined with a very specific alloy results in a clean steel with good resistance to wear and corrosion. This type of steel is used for domestic, international and military aerospace applications. When compared with other types of steel, BG42 demonstrates superiority in areas of hardness, hot hardness, retention of hardness, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and wear resistance. The chemical makeup of BG42 is:
Carbon 1.15 Silicone 0.30
Manganese 0.50 Chromium 14.50
Molybdenum 4.00 Vanadium 1.20
The introduction of 1.2% Vanadium increases the steels toughness and edge retention.
- Joined
- Sep 23, 1999
- Messages
- 3,831
Gee, thanks for clearing this up for me too!
I firgot that:
Hitachi makes ATS steels..
VG-10 is Japanese agrden tool steel
BG-42 is American
I have articles on VG-10 and BG-42, but I guess I forgot those details!
At least I got the vanadium part right. All I need is to go around telling peopel to get knives with a high sulphur content, as you get sulfur carbides or some crap like that!
Oh, the VAR in VIM-VAR is Vacuum Arc Re-Melt! Whew, just remembered that one.
I firgot that:
Hitachi makes ATS steels..
VG-10 is Japanese agrden tool steel
BG-42 is American
I have articles on VG-10 and BG-42, but I guess I forgot those details!
At least I got the vanadium part right. All I need is to go around telling peopel to get knives with a high sulphur content, as you get sulfur carbides or some crap like that!
Oh, the VAR in VIM-VAR is Vacuum Arc Re-Melt! Whew, just remembered that one.
- Joined
- Jan 13, 1999
- Messages
- 1,422
It should be noted that the differences between knife maker is much more important than the inherent difference of the abovementioned steels. They are all excellent and can all make first rate knives.
VG-10 is indeed Japanese. Fallkniven don't actually make any knives, they simply send a design to Japan and have one of the Japanese companies make it. Many American companies also work this way, Cold Steel, SOG, and many others all have at least part of their line completely made abroad.
In my using experience, VG-10 makes very good knives. But it could simply be the excellent heat treat given. I think all American VG-10 knives comes from the same Japanese factory (Hattori), that's why you see consistant excellence.
ATS-34 for example can be hit or miss. They are usually okay. But the Microtech I have (154CM - basically the same thing) is noticebly a better cutting tool than other factory ATS-34 knives.
VG-10 is indeed Japanese. Fallkniven don't actually make any knives, they simply send a design to Japan and have one of the Japanese companies make it. Many American companies also work this way, Cold Steel, SOG, and many others all have at least part of their line completely made abroad.
In my using experience, VG-10 makes very good knives. But it could simply be the excellent heat treat given. I think all American VG-10 knives comes from the same Japanese factory (Hattori), that's why you see consistant excellence.
ATS-34 for example can be hit or miss. They are usually okay. But the Microtech I have (154CM - basically the same thing) is noticebly a better cutting tool than other factory ATS-34 knives.