Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1065°C(1949°F)
Soak Time30 minutes
Tempering
Temperature205°C(401°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
60 - 61 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness6/10
Edge Retention8/10
Corrosion Resistance7.5/10
Ease of Sharpening5/10
Overall Score26.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Double vacuum melted martensitic stainless by Latrobe
- 2Originally designed for aerospace - bearings and structural components
- 3Chris Reeve hardened BG-42 to 60-61 HRC (higher than S30V at 58-59)
- 4BG-42 Sebenzas now highly collectible, sell for more than S30V versions
- 5Discontinued when Carpenter bought recipe, now CTS-B75P
Famous Uses
Chris Reeve Sebenza (1996-2002)
Spyderco Military sprint
Best For
Tactical and combat knives
Folding pocket knives
Balanced performance applications
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Budget projects (expensive)
- Availability (rare)
Expert Tips
- 1Vanadium forms strong carbides
- 2Molybdenum enhances machinability
- 3Careful heat treatment required