Anybody have experience with 154cm stainless steel?

I've had a Benchmade 9050 AFO with 154cm for almost 15 years now it's been in nearly every environment from Desert to Snow to Humid. I haven't taken the best care of it, I've beat the hell out of it, rarely clean it, sharpen it when needed and there isn't a sign of any kind of rust or corossion.
 
I have over a dozen 154cm knives mostly Benchmades. I have yet to have a single issue with 154cm. It sharpens up relatively easy and holds its edge better than average. None of mine have rust or stains...
 
I've had a spyderco manix 2 in that steel in my pocket for 2+ years.

No corrosion thus far.
 
I have owned several knives in 154cm and had zero problems with corrosion. Good mix of wear resistance and toughness and if you like polished edges look no further. Great steel but cpm154cm is better. In fact it's one one of my faves.
 
I have a bird and trout from big Chris that I have used around the salt water for a few years. I wash it and dry it at end of day and no rust issues. It takes a fine edge and sharpens easily. It is the CPM version.
Russ
 
Kutz said:
I went to the gym with a stone washed emerson clipped iwb and when I pulled it out after my workout it had brown spots all over it. It cleaned up with some hoppe's but I was not expecting that to happen. Sweat, at least mine messes up 154cm. I should have gotten one of the coated blades for that application.
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You have to keep the knife clipped to the FRONT of your workout shorts. Really cuts down on the brown spotting. :D

The salty, briney Pacific Ocean has yet to cause me any corrosion on my 154CM stuff. Wish I had a clam shovel made of the stuff.
 
154CM is an American version of ATS-34, which may not be a lot help. It has more chromium than D2, but not as much as Elmax. It's the sort of steel that can be thought of as rust proof in any reasonable climate. Only as you get to extremes will it rust. Also, surface finish plays a role here. A polished surface will have lower potential for corrosion than a bead-blast finish.
 
I love 154cm. Its probably my favorite along with its more refined com counterpart.
 
I've BM Rift since 2008 and no problems with corrosion. Also that steel is very good in Benchmade knives.
 
I've never had a single issue with 154 or ATS34, even when left bloody for hours, or in the rain all day. It is a great steel and so far I like it better then S30V. I've had 154 and 34 blades for many years and S30V for about two years now.
 
wfsltt, I just read your post, and recalled leaving ATS34 "bloody for hours" as you put it. Didn't think twice, just found myself nodding in agreement.

Occurred to me... where else can a guy state that he left his knife bloody for hours, and not get so much as a raised eyebrow. LOL !

Such a conversation doesn't pass so easily in most situations I'll bet.
 
The only 154cm I have is Emerson's. It's never rusted on me but I am a little wacked out when it comes to keeping my knives clean and dry.
 
I find 154CM one of the more enjoyable steels to maintain. Not difficult to sharpen and takes a great edge.
 
I imagine the OP has considerably more experience with 154cm now than he did in 2011. It would be interesting to see a four year touch back.
 
RBid said:
I imagine the OP has considerably more experience with 154cm now than he did in 2011. It would be interesting to see a four year touch back.
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Yes!!!

I remember back in 2011 too; had a few Emerson's; specifically a CQC 16 and an A-100. Can't say I used 'em much but can't recall any rust issues either. Ah, the good ole days... :rolleyes::foot::D

grandad-1.jpg
 
It looks like I might be the only person posting here who is not a fan of 154CM. I have two Benchmades in 154...and I have been sharpening knives for years and for a short time professionally. 154CM (or at least the composite, HT used by Benchmade) seems to leave the steel extremely soft. So much so that I think 8cr13 actually holds a better edge. I hate to say it because I love my Benchmades. I am not hard on my knives at all. But I think I could easily sharpen 154 every couple of weeks with very little usage on the blades. I have a new Kershaw launch in CPM154 which I believe probably has a harder rockwell rating and most likely holds an edge better than plane 154CM. But has anyone else experienced this with 154? Its easy enough to sharpen...but seems to dull very very fast even with easy use. Thoughts?
 
I had a grip that didn't rust too bad and I live a really high humidity place, but I lovvvvvve the edge it takes
 
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