710 BT 154 vs. 710 BT M2

[Commodorefirst]

Need opinions on which would be better for me. 154 vs. M2 both blades will be BT coated. I am concerned about edge chipping and rust.

Will use around water some, cutting shad etc., knife will occasionally get wet with water and perhaps blood (animal, not mine, lol) I will rinse and put away but no oil wipe down until evening or next day.

Knife will be a user. Currently happy with other Benchmade 154 user blades. Get good life out of them. Is the M2 that much tougher? What about rust on the edge. I know that M2 has a much greater tendency to rust but how much more or is it overblown? Plan on 40 degree edge with my trusty 204 FYI.

Looking for some actual user opinions from the vast store of knowledge here at the forums. (yes I did a search, still want to talk about this.)

Thanks,
Wade

 

[aerius]

For whatever reason I can't get any of my knives to rust so I'd go with the M2 knife. I've had a M2 710 for about 6 months now and used it for many things including food prep while out of town or camping without any rusting at all. Then again I have a 0-1 utility wharneclif (sp?) that's used for slicing fruits and that hasn't rusted either so take it for what it's worth. Some folks have 440C rusting in their drawers while I can't even get carbon steels to rust at all, go figure.

What I like the most about M2 is that I can get away with a thinner edge without giving up any strength compared to 154cm, which improves cutting performance with no loss in durability. It also takes a nicer edge, but you can't really tell without some creative cutting tests. The most important thing I see is that when you do mess up the edge it tends to roll or indent instead of chipping out, which makes the damage easier to fix when it happens. For me the only reason I'd grab a 154cm knife from Benchmade is when they don't make the model I want in M2.

 

[Shmackey]

If you're going to put up with the BT2 coating anyway, might as well get the M2.

 

[knifenerd]

I have both versions (actually the ATS-34 model). The M2 version is only available in BT2 coating. I find it takes a more razor-sharp edge than the stainless model. I treat it to a fairly regular "hit" with the Tuf-Cloth and rust has not been a factor at all, even with some salt water exposure.

I'd go with the M2, but be a bit more careful with routine maintenance.

Use the Marine Tuf-Cloth on it and I don't think you'll experience any major problems.

 

[Akwacko]

I have the 710 in M2. It hold a nice edge longer than the 154. I have had the edge develop a little rust after having the knife inside my waders during a long day of fishing. I cut the gills on a salmon I had caught in salt water early in the day. The rust was easily stropped off.

 

[Samurai6]

The M-2 is tougher. As long as you wipe it more or less dry after each use, you won't have any problems with rust. I carried a 910HS in my waist band in the Philippines for a month and a half, sweating like a pig the whole time, and saw no orange rust on the edge, only tarnishing. 154CM is not exactly rust proof either. My 154CM Benchmade blades take a fine edge, and in general seem to be fine grained steel, and I have no complaints about the toughness. I keep my edges sharpened well under 40 degrees.

I would make the decesion realizing that you would only be trading a little rust resistance for a little toughness, not a lot either way.

 

[misque]

I have both the ATS-34 version and the M-2 version. I much prefer the M-2 as it holds it's edge longer and and I seem to be able to get a keener edge on it.

I think your gonna get a lot more favorable M-2 responses here.
Comparing the two, it seems that there are more +'s in the M-2 column, the only minus being the corrosion factor.

 

[komondor]

Go with the M2
Always take strength over corrosion resistance, unless you are exposed to particular environments.
Not only that, with M2 you get more than strength, you get its actual number one benefit: hardness. So you will sharpen it less often.

Schmackey had a good point, too.

 

[robow]

I hate this much agreement but after owning both 710's I gotta say the M2 is significantly better at maintaining it's edge, and rusting of the coated blade has not been a factor. The M2 710 happens to be the one knife you'll have the toughest time trying to pry from my dead paws.