What is BG-42?

[callahwj]

Can anyone tell me about this steel, who uses it, it's good points and bad points?

Thanks,
Bill Callahan

 

[stjames]

The correct name for this steel is Lescalloy® BG42® 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 steel’s toughness and edge retention.

 

[Burke]

As far as I know, Chris Reeves, SOG, and a few Bucks are the only factory knives with BG-42. It's a ball-bearing type steel, stainless. I understand it's a lot like ATS-34, but better (tougher, better edge-holding, more stainless) but I could be wrong.

 

[Burke]

Beat me by a minute! Err, that's what I meant to say.

 

[A. G. Russell]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Burke:
As far as I know, Chris Reeves, SOG, and a few Bucks are the only factory knives with BG-42. It's a ball-bearing type steel, stainless. I understand it's a lot like ATS-34, but better (tougher, better edge-holding, more stainless) but I could be wrong.</font>

When I first tried it many years ago, as soon as Loveless told me about it, I found it much harder to work than 154CM. This was before ceramic belts. I never bothered with it again until recently. How do the handmade makers find working with BG-42 today? Please compare it with ATS-34 or 154CM.

 

[Steve-O]

It seems to have a finer 'grain' than ATS-34, given the proper heat treatment.

 

[Running Dog]

Yo' A.G.R....

I think it's a little easier to grind than 154-CM...

All three of the steels you mention are great knife steels of course...We started with the BG-42 due to customer demand and we like it...

Cuts nicely and takes a good finish...As far as we can tell, it's very stain resistant and hold a very good edge...

Running Dog

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Running Dog Knife Company
http://www.runningdogknife.bigstep.com
runningdog@dog.com
mmurphy@premier1.net

 

[kutch133]

I am by no means an expert on steel and anybody correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that any stainless steel with vanadium in it (ie. VG-10 and especially BG-42) that receives proper heat treatment, will demonstrate a blade that has all of the favorable characterics such as toughness, edge retention, corrosion resistance, etc. The one characteristic that I find most appealing is that the vanadium forms smaller carbides, thus giving the blade a very fine edge. Chris Reeves Sebenza's are well known for their scalpel-like sharpness and I personally have seen how keen and edge a VG-10 blade will take.

 

[kutch133]

I am by no means an expert on steel and anybody correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that any stainless steel with vanadium in it (ie. VG-10 and especially BG-42) that receives proper heat treatment, will demonstrate a blade that has all of the favorable characterics such as toughness, edge retention, corrosion resistance, etc. The one characteristic that I find most appealing is that the vanadium forms smaller carbides, thus giving the blade a very fine edge. Chris Reeves Sebenza's are well known for their scalpel-like sharpness and I personally have seen how keen and edge a VG-10 blade will take.

Sorry, Double Post.

[This message has been edited by kutch133 (edited 03-22-2001).]

 

[fandorin]

Would BG 42 be good for scuba diving knife or is there more appropriate steel for that purpose? I got certified as a diver and was thinking about ordering custom made knife for my next diving vacation, but was not sure about the steel. My first dives were with CS Hai Hocho made from AUS6 and it never developed stains even though I forgot to wash it for a week. Alex.

 

[Griffon]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Burke:
As far as I know, Chris Reeves, SOG, and a few Bucks are the only factory knives with BG-42.</font>

<a href="http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/knives/schrade/slw1.html"><img align=right src="http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/knives/schrade/_slw1-side.jpg"></a>
Not quite, at least Schrade too.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another knife with that steel.


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Urban Fredriksson www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/

 

[See2]

Phil Boguszewski's knives are BG-42 (or at least, the Cobra is) I'm waiting on mine now.

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Of course, that's just MY opinion - I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

 

[thknives]

I have been almost eclusivley working with BG 42 for 2 years now.
I am very much impressed by it's strength compaired to ATS 34 and 440 C. Edgeholding is also better then the other steels. Corossion ressistance is nearly as high as 440 C.
I see no problem in using it in a diving application. As with all other diving equipment it needs to be rinsed after use and not stored in the sheath when wet.
BG 42 will exibit some surface corrosion under some circumstances, same as ATS 34 or 440 C.

It takes a very high finish, a 600 grit handrub is very mirrory (for lack of better words). No visible grain.

A word on the edgeholding, the edge is not as agressive as one migth expect. By this I mean that the edge is more like a surgical sharpness then the coarse edge as so ofter seen on other steels. This has to do with the micro size of the carbides in the steel when properly heat treated.
I had ofter guys say at shows, that this knife is not sharp when poeple finger check it. But when I easily slice a piece of paper with the knife, they get kind of embaraced.

A.G. Russel, as for working with it:
Using good quality ceramic belts it is easy to work with. A little bit harder then ATS 34 and more time consuming. I drill at somewhat lower speeds, with good quality cutting fluid and bit.

It has a tendency to wrap in a atmospheric furnace, I did not have this problem using salt bath. RC is up there, easyly getting 62 -65. With a 62 RC, a blade is fully servicable, with exibiting no brittleness.

Hope this helps.

Thomas

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Haslinger Custom Knives
WWW.HASLINGER-KNIVES.COM
thknives@home.com

 

[bfm]

Love Vanadium. Got hooked on it with Knipex tools from Germany and started looking for knife steels with the highest vanadium content. Can't go wromg.