ZDP-189 Question

[tkdiver1]

I was looking at Shun Kitchen knives and noticed that they have knives made with both VG-10 as well as SG2. My question is this. Is SG2 just another name for ZDP-189? If not what is SG2 and how does it compare to something like s30v or ZDP-189? I noticed that nobody seems to be using that steel to make knives with except Shun. Any insight would be appreciated.

[Bill1170]

SG2 is not ZDP-189. It is another high end powdered steel, but I have no experience with it. I think Fallkniven uses it in some of their knives.

[yablanowitz]

If my old brain cells are firing true, SG2 is also known as Super Gold 2, and Kershaw did a sprint run or two with it a while back. It also has been mentioned a few times in the Mule Team threads as a candidate. In fact, I'm reasonably sure Sal has said it is coming up. Oh, and no, it isn't the same as ZDP-189, but that's about all I can tell you about it off-hand.

[demtek9]

I have one of the SG2 Kershaw models and have EDC'ed a few Spyderco ZDP blades too. They both have a high hardness and take the same kind of edge. I'd say they are almost too close in behavior for me to tell the difference if they were not marked correctly.

[LowTEC]

SG2 is good stuff, hardness is close to ZDP but ZDP is still the king.

Blazen keeps his blade stock super thin, yet the SG2 can hold the edge with no chip or roll at all. Has better rust resistance than ZDP, so I would say SG2 (when heat treat properly) is the best thing you can get in kitchen cutlery if you want SS.

I have heard Falkniven didn't get SG2 heat treat recipe perfect but I'm not too sure about that

But overall SG2 is way above VG10 and S30V in terms of edge hardness, and can be kept in very acute angle no problem