Why don't more companies use BG-42???

T

Tetsusaiga

Joined
Aug 21, 2006
Messages
483
I'm curious, cos besides a few selected models from SOG, Bcuk Spyderco etc... very few of the other models or companies use it... WHY????

Is it because of cost or difficulty in heat treating it well??

To all intents and purposes, it appears to be an excellent stainless steel. Why do not more companies use it in their knives???
 
You got it right. Cost, and heat treatment isn't as easy as they like for production knives. It's a great steel' and well liked. It's always had it's fans and still does.

To me it's a clean, easy to sharpen steel that takes and holds an edge. Edge stability is good too. Not quite up to ZDP class but it's good over all.

No prying, hitting rocks, staples etc. just like any other high quality stainless and there should be no complaints. Joe
 
Chris Reeve used BG-42 on his folders until he collaborated on the development of S30V.
 
One comment I've heard is that the manufacturer isn't interested in the knife business [it's a bearing steel ] .S30V was designed as a knife steel.
 
Sal has mentioned a couple times that it takes a while to get. IIRC, the lead time on their next batch is 14 months. It's also relatively expensive.
 
Takes a while to get, low availability, and very expensive (at least as expensive as PM steels). While there are fans of the steel, there isn't a giant demand for it either.
 
I think it's still available only in bar stock and not in rolled sheet stock, making it much more expensive for the manufacturer to get involved with on a large scale. It's still an excellent blade steel.;)
 
So knives that do use it really cost more because of the availability and cost to heat treat BG-42??
 
The Chef said:
What exactly makes it "better" than say S30v?
Click to expand...

Nothing. These steels both preform very well. If someone is noticing a difference in cutting with these 2 mats and they are both the same edge geometry and hardened correctly it's because of preconcieved notions they have. I think S30V is a bit tougher. I have heard that manufacturwers tend to stay away because of the compex and picky heat treat. Has to be perfect to get the preformance out of the steel.
 
I personally love BG-42 as it takes a nasty edge and holds it very well, and is not as hard to sharpen as S30V. I have sebbies in both steels and like the BG-42 version better, just me.
 
BigJimSlade said:
Nothing. These steels both preform very well. If someone is noticing a difference in cutting with these 2 mats and they are both the same edge geometry and hardened correctly it's because of preconcieved notions they have. I think S30V is a bit tougher. I have heard that manufacturwers tend to stay away because of the compex and picky heat treat. Has to be perfect to get the preformance out of the steel.
Click to expand...

Thanks Big Jim. I have almost all s30v knives and can't think of much that would be better.
 
S30V has a finer and more uniform microstructure, but the steels are fairly close.
 
As Larrin says, S30V is a powdered steel and the grain is smaller and the elements better distributed.

I don't have BG42....something I've been thinking of changing. Only problem, most of the knives I see BG42 in are a bit bigger than I like (e.g., Spyderco Military and Buck 110). I like my blades in the 3 inch or slightly smaller range...just suits me better.
:)
 
We like BG-42, but Larrin is correct on limited demand, partially because of the high cost.

We've got more on order (very long lead time), but we've haven't decided what to make out of it. I don't want to hijack this thread, but if anyone into Spyderco has thoughts on this, perhaps we could get a thread going on the Spyderco forum in Mfrs?

sal

-------------------------------------------------------

"The paths of your life are determined by the choices you make"
 
I've got an older Classic Sebbie in BG 42. Love the stuff. Easy to sharpen and holds an edge a long time.
 
plowboy, I was going to suggest what ubernut said. My 2 large and 1 small Sebbies are all BG-42. If you can find an older small Sebenza, you're good to go, but it does cost.
 
I have a sebbie umfaan and a small regular in BG42. I also have a Schrade(limited edition Lake,Walker design) in BG42.I love them all!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top