154cm or AUS8

N

newknife

Joined
Jul 6, 2008
Messages
588
Can anyone tell me which is a better steel?

Comparing the Benchmande Grip to the Ontario Rat-1.

Thanks....
 
Probably the 154cm

Bit harder to sharpen, a bit less rust resistant but holds an edge longer.
It's also a powdersteel, more homogenise.
 
THG said:
Are you sure? I thought that was only CPM steels, and CPM-154 is different from 154cm.
Click to expand...

154cm and CMP-154 are indeed different steels.


AUS 8 is ridiculously easy to sharpen and takes a very nice edge. That being said 154cm would be my pick every time.
 
I agree with all the points here but I'd take it a step further and proclaim that 154CM is much more than a notch above AUS-8. A few notches perhaps. No ding on AUS-8 either. It's a fine user steel.
 
J.Mattson said:
AUS 8 is ridiculously easy to sharpen and takes a very nice edge. That being said 154cm would be my pick every time.
Click to expand...


Funny that. Me too.
Saying that, I can get AUS-8 very sharp. Scarey sharp.
As always, depends on the heat-treatment.

:)
 
THG said:
Are you sure? I thought that was only CPM steels, and CPM-154 is different from 154cm.
Click to expand...

Yes you're right :thumbup:

154cm is the old plain version, cpm 154 same elements but powdersteel.

Lately you see so much cpm 154 that I made the mistake. :o
Stainlessness, ease of sharpening and edge holding 154cm vs aus8 stays the same as stated above
 
From my own limited experience, I have found that AUS8 is easier (takes less time) to sharpen, but 154CM stays sharp significantly longer. I havn't had issues with either one rusting. Cheers.
 
My opinion is that 154CM is a better steel all thing considered. I do have 2 or 3 knives in AUS8 steel and they have been fine for everyday carry. And I do agree with others that AUS8 sharpens extremal well. But 154CM holds a sharp edge longer.
 
AUS8 can be made scary sharp fairly easily but requires frequent touch up.
154CM can be made scary sharp +1 and even though takes more time and fine touch to sharpen, holds that edge much longer.
My wife final tests the edge on my knives because she has more delicate finger tips, and every time she tries any of the 154CM blades, she always gives a sudden exclamation rather than just the raised eyebrows of the AUS8.

From my own trial and error and opinion.
 
There is a large price difference between those two knives, if you look around a bit. 154cm is a 'better' steel but I do not like it and will not tend to purchase knives with it. I do not care for having its rather large carbides ripping out of the edge or the bevel even with just sharpening it.
 
I don't have any experience with 154cm, but I've heard it's an adequate steel that is often compared with s30v. I have had experience with s30v and it's a great steel.

AUS8 is a decent steel, good for work knives (depending on what your using it for YMMV). It can get a good edge and hold it for a decent amount of time.

154cm will be the better steel though, there is a reason it costs more. It holds an edge longer and is stronger than AUS8.
 
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