Why would kershaw discontinue sg2 steel?

[FlaMtnBkr]

SG2 like any steel has it's strengths and weaknesses.

On occasion, I believe the user either doesn't know, or has expectations that exceed the knife, or in this case, the steel.

I believe SG2 to be a really solid preforming steel in certain applications, but was nervous about utilizing SG2 in a pocket knife. It's strengths would excel with cutting and slicing, but rugged use could show its fragile side. We ground the blades to be quite thin with it's geometry [specifically the JYD II), and for most that used the blades, SG2 was/is exceeding with performance. Prying, bone strikes, batoning, are not going to bring pretty results with this steel.

Again, one has to come to an understanding of the tool in your hand, and the job you have in front of you. Just because it's a knife (even a high dollar piece), doesn't mean you shouldn't proceed with caution.

I guarantee you if you used the 1725SG2 in this manner, it would fail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyl2CGb2N38

On a side note, I'll keep telling myself that thinner is better...I learned that on this very forum.

I'm not super enthusiastic about the styling of the JYD but I do like pocket scalpels that are good at cutting and holding an edge. It looks like a fine knife and like it would be comfortable in hand but the looks are a little different than I usually go for. I might not be able to use it super hard but I am actually intrigued. Do you know what hardness the JYD with SG2 average? I might have to try and track one down. Can't really afford it but if they are discontinued then I might try to get one somehow before they are all gone.

 

[sunnyd]

.. Why don't you send the 2 dogs in to warranty, and we can swap them out for potentially a better fit in your gear?

Much Obliged for the offer Thomas,

They are likely gone by now. They're a hand full of folks that hang around the campsite refuse area. They are always looking for the fixable or usable tool that others leave behind. I'm sure that our loss was their gain.


Anthony

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

Do better for $150? I'm pretty sure a fat Ti framelock and SG2 at under $150 is a damn steal if I've ever seen one. For $150 it's a hell of a knife, for $75, the blem is the best bang for buck knife out there right now.
I used it as my main EDC for a few months up until about a week ago and I was never let down by it. I used it in the manner it was intended for, EDC.
Trying to skin or field dress a hog with a hollow ground slicer is a stupid idea, especially with a hard steel like SG2. Any thinly ground knife would have performed poorly so it's not the JYD's fault you used it for a task it wasn't intended for.

 

[knivesandguns]

Do better for $150? I'm pretty sure a fat Ti framelock and SG2 at under $150 is a damn steal if I've ever seen one. For $150 it's a hell of a knife, for $75, the blem is the best bang for buck knife out there right now.
I used it as my main EDC for a few months up until about a week ago and I was never let down by it. I used it in the manner it was intended for, EDC.
Trying to skin or field dress a hog with a hollow ground slicer is a stupid idea, especially with a hard steel like SG2. Any thinly ground knife would have performed poorly so it's not the JYD's fault you used it for a task it wasn't intended for.

Yes, nicely said ABA. :thumbup:

There's a reason why 1095 is used primarily in "outdoor-use" type of blades and isn't ground as thin... etc.

 

[sunnyd]

Do better for $150? I'm pretty sure a fat Ti framelock and SG2 at under $150 is a damn steal if I've ever seen one. For $150 it's a hell of a knife, for $75, the blem is the best bang for buck knife out there right now.
I used it as my main EDC for a few months up until about a week ago and I was never let down by it. I used it in the manner it was intended for, EDC.
Trying to skin or field dress a hog with a hollow ground slicer is a stupid idea, especially with a hard steel like SG2. Any thinly ground knife would have performed poorly so it's not the JYD's fault you used it for a task it wasn't intended for.

ABA,

Please tell me, as I am curious since NO one else can tell me, what do you use your JD2 w/SG2 steel for?. Exactly??. Please DO NOT SAY, cutting string, opening mail, or cutting boxes.. I mean real work and feel free to show photographs if you would like to??.

Thanks in advance for all your assistance in this regard!

Anthony

 

[sunnyd]

Yes, nicely said ABA. :thumbup:

There's a reason why 1095 is used primarily in "outdoor-use" type of blades and isn't ground as thin... etc.

..Please explain, as NO one else seems to be able to do.. WHAT, EXACTLY??

Thanks in advance,
Anthony

 

[J_Curd]

I've whittled, cut carpet, drywall, etc...as long as your don't hit a hard object or put torque on the blade you will be fine with the thin SG2 blades. It isn't the right knife for cleaning heavy game, but that's already been covered.

I wouldn't hesitate to clean a deer with either the Blur or JYD2 in SG2, but I wouldn't muscle it through joints.

It is a slicer. Just like a ton of other steel choices and designs.

How does thinly ground ZDP fare for butchering hogs Anthony (and co.)?

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

Speaker wire, 1/4" plastic tie straps, coax cable, clamshell packaging.
Call that "light duty" but that's what I used it for while installing a security system a few weeks ago so that's a pretty typical use for it. Sometimes 1" corrugated cardboard at work. It's a pretty typical set of EDC chores and I've yet to have issues.

 

[sunnyd]

I've whittled, cut carpet, drywall, etc...as long as your don't hit a hard object or put torque on the blade you will be fine with the thin SG2 blades. It isn't the right knife for cleaning heavy game, but that's already been covered.

I wouldn't hesitate to clean a deer with either the Blur or JYD2 in SG2, but I wouldn't muscle it through joints.

It is a slicer. Just like a ton of other steel choices and designs.

How does thinly ground ZDP fare for butchering hogs Anthony (and co.)?

~ Let me see if I got this right, you can whittle..

JEESH, its a knife, I hope so!

Cut carpet and drywall as long as you don't hit a hard object.. :foot: WHAT??. Like, Oh, I don't know, like as in drywall screws or carpet nails in carpets or tack-strips on the actual flooring that hold the carpet down like wood flooring or concrete floors?? C'ome'on?!!.

..And use no torque on the blade??. A knife for me is a hard use tool and I am personally always using pressure--torque on the blade as I utilize the knife when I cut things.. Anythings!

Anthony

 

[sunnyd]

Speaker wire, 1/4" plastic tie straps, coax cable, clamshell packaging.
Call that "light duty" but that's what I used it for while installing a security system a few weeks ago so that's a pretty typical use for it. Sometimes 1" corrugated cardboard at work. It's a pretty typical set of EDC chores and I've yet to have issues.

Please understand me here.. I am not insulting you.. However..

I just brought my 13 year old daughter here and she just said, "Dad, 1/4 inch plastic ties is what I just cut for our "Spring Fling Dance" dance at Middle School with my teachers for decorating and we used a old scissors to cut them. Same with clamshell packing for the electronics components for the same reason."..

Just say'n..

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

It's not a hard use tool. It's a pocket slicer. Want hard use? Buy a ZT, end of story. If you looked at the thinly ground, ~62-64RC SG2 JYD and said "This is the tool I'm going to use to serve as a hard use beater knife" than the least of your problems is it chipping.

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

You can't have knives at school, so scissors are the next best option.
I used my knife because when I was working it's what was on hand.

You critique my decision of using a knife to cut clamshell and zip ties, yet you use a thinly ground slicer to try and dress a hog? Way to be a hypocrite.

 

[darkmoto]

the sg2 kitchen knives in the thinner format are known for not being robust it is discussed on occasion on another forum dedicated to kitchen knives

kershaw sg2 and blazen sg2 are known to chip pretty readily with less than careful use which is typical for the avg cook. Keep in mind the lowest common denominator really rules the overall use of kitchen knives and its a very tiny fraction that understand what owning a more quirky knife entails. What I am saying is there is nothing inherently wrong with the knives or the steel it's all the end user beating them up doing stuff a much softer more robust knife is capable of.

the sg2 blades on the market are a far cry different than the lackluster steel in most of the german knives or any of the budget knives available today. the issue is sacrificing toughness for hardness and making thinner knives which are more capable in skilled hands. Again good trade offs for people who understand how to treat knives and a poor change for the avg cook who abuses their knives.

In the case of kitchen knives an avg user would fair much better with the shun classic than the sg2 lines despite how toted a steel is for being fantastic. Just like the avg user has little business using traditional single bevel knives made from some of the best steels around. I mean the shear performance of a yanagi in white #1 is stunning or a deba in blue#2 and the list could go on but the avg user is generally not disciplined enough to keep those knives in working order nor do they get that such a knife carries with it a whole mindset that you need to abide by to not destroy the knives.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

I would think cutting carpet and drywall would be worse for an edge than a pig. I don't understand why everyone thinks butchering a hog is all that demanding of a task? Unless you are just hacking into bones non stop it isn't that big of a deal. You can process 4 or 5 deer without needing to sharpen a knife if it is one of the more wear resistant steels.

 

[darkmoto]

animal butchery is not all that hard on knives with a decent amount of understanding how the internal structures of an animal works nor is it very demanding of quality knives. You can easily go all day butchering if you do the job properly and use the sufficient tools for the tasks.

Hell the avg butcher uses crappy rental blades or forschners these days and they slap them with a steel like they need to beat the edge into submission.

fish butchery is more demanding of quality blades of high sharpness to not abuse the flesh as it is far more delicate work.

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

I would think cutting carpet and drywall would be worse for an edge than a pig. I don't understand why everyone thinks butchering a hog is all that demanding of a task? Unless you are just hacking into bones non stop it isn't that big of a deal. You can process 4 or 5 deer without needing to sharpen a knife if it is one of the more wear resistant steels.

Okay. So assuming you're right, neither me or JCurd has had an issue doing just that, so if it's harder work and we haven't had issues, either sunnyd is trolling to bash SG2 or we are more skilled at using our knives than he is.
Take your pick, or quite possibly, him dressing the hog was more abusive than our uses.

And sunnyd claiming he left a pair of $150 knives outside for someone else to find is a bit fishy. He can bash the knife all he wants, but he no longer has one (or even had one) to speak of leads me to believe his claims are a bit skewed.

 

[sunnyd]

Here is a just a few of my tested, tried, & true hard use chore knives..

Aan older Buck 112..

An older Buck 102..

An older Schrade Old Timer # 25OT..

Anthony

 

[sunnyd]

Okay. So assuming you're right, neither me or JCurd has had an issue doing just that, so if it's harder work and we haven't had issues, either sunnyd is trolling to bash SG2 or we are more skilled at using our knives than he is.
Take your pick, or quite possibly, him dressing the hog was more abusive than our uses.

And sunnyd claiming he left a pair of $150 knives outside for someone else to find is a bit fishy. He can bash the knife all he wants, but he no longer has one (or even had one) to speak of leads me to believe his claims are a bit skewed.

Please prove me wrong!. I left two JYD's the refuse area.. And NO it did not cost me or any of my peers a single dime. These Titanium handled JYD's with the your infamous SG2 steel was donated to us by folks who wanted them tested(in our real world field) environment.

I DO NOT give a hoot if'n you don't believe me or not.

Also, what could be or would be any possible motive for "trolling to bash SG2 steel"??..

. I BELIEVE THE ABOVE STATEMENT PROVES BEYOND OF A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT YOU ARE A TRARD IN THE 1ST DEGGREE!


Have a nice day as YOU my boy are done!


Anthony

 

[J_Curd]

I would tell you that 420HC is a great steel for cleaning game. You can sharpen it faster than you can dull it.

However just because SG2 isn't suited to your application, that doesn't mean it's junk.

You probably don't bring home dead hogs in a Mercedes for much the same reason.

 

[A_Blade_Afficionado]

Please prove me wrong!. I left two JYD's the refuse area.. And NO it did not cost me or any of my peers a single dime. These Titanium handled JYD's with the your infamous SG2 steel was donated to us by folks who wanted them tested(in our real world field) environment.

I DO NOT give a hoot if'n you don't believe me or not.

Also, what could be or would be any possible motive for "trolling to bash SG2 steel"??..

. I BELIEVE THE ABOVE STATEMENT PROVES BEYOND OF A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT YOU ARE A TRARD IN THE 1ST DEGGREE!


Have a nice day as YOU my boy are done!


Anthony

Why are you getting so defensive?
You're trolling to bash SG2, you've already made your point, we've listened, yet you continue to rant about how bad the steel is and how your Bucks are better. Believe it or not a purpose built hunting knife is better than a pocket slicer. Who would have guessed?
The OP's question has been addressed and answered, you ranting about how bad SG2 is getting old. Nobody cares anymore, you made your point, pounding it into our skulls over and over is redundant and a waste of your time. No matter how much you bash SG2 it will continue to be a great steel. One old timer who refuses to accept the limitations of high hardness steels makes no difference in the big picture of life. Go back to your ancient Bucks from before the dawn of time, I will continue to enjoy modern steels regardless of how much you complain about them. As well the rest of the knifenuts who have stepped into the 21st century.