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ATS-34 or M2: which is more corrosion resistant?
- Thread starter jeegeet
- Start date
The fact that all of BM's M2 knives are coated to prevent rust says it all. They don't even make a non-coated version. Hope this helps.
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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 1999
- Messages
- 1,499
As was mentioned previously ATS-34 is stainless steel and M-2 isn't. However even stainless ATS-34 has susceptibility to spot appearance if it is frequently in contact with the salt water. This is the main reason why BM Nimravus has BT-2 coated blade.
If your knife is intended to contact salt water - my advice would be:
1. Choose your Nimravus with ATS-34 blade.
2. Don't strip it from BT-2 coating, currently this non-sense work seems to be pretty fashionable.
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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 04-03-2000).]
If your knife is intended to contact salt water - my advice would be:
1. Choose your Nimravus with ATS-34 blade.
2. Don't strip it from BT-2 coating, currently this non-sense work seems to be pretty fashionable.
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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 04-03-2000).]
Great question really. Common knowledge says that ATS is better at rust resistance. But I am not really sure that is true. And if it is I believe it is not better by very much. Anyone here have a M2 knife rust and an ats that didn't rust under same conditions?
- Joined
- Nov 24, 1999
- Messages
- 4,981
M2 is a high speed steel designed for use in machinist type applications. Its used for cutting other metals. It will rust extremely fast in a corrosuve enviroment if you don't coat it. If you want to take it on a rafting trip it definitely needs to be coated. And the coating doesn't protect the cutting edge, so there is the possibility of corrosian dulling the blade.
ATS34 is a stainless steel so right away it will outperform M2 on corrosian resistance. Its make up has as little chrome as possible though to make it perform better. That means less resistance to corrosian than some other stainlesses. Given the proper care, it should do pretty good on a rafting trip. It would do very well if you could get it coated with something like the BT2 that Benchmade uses.
You should check out some of the newer stainless alloys to. If I remember right, some of the new cpm alloys like 440V and 420V have more chrome in them than ATS34,so they should resist corrosian very well,and they're supposed to take a better edge.
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
ATS34 is a stainless steel so right away it will outperform M2 on corrosian resistance. Its make up has as little chrome as possible though to make it perform better. That means less resistance to corrosian than some other stainlesses. Given the proper care, it should do pretty good on a rafting trip. It would do very well if you could get it coated with something like the BT2 that Benchmade uses.
You should check out some of the newer stainless alloys to. If I remember right, some of the new cpm alloys like 440V and 420V have more chrome in them than ATS34,so they should resist corrosian very well,and they're supposed to take a better edge.
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
Gary W. Graley
“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Mar 2, 1999
- Messages
- 28,003
I tell folks all the time
it's Stain-Less
Not Stain-Never
So yes even the ATS-34 can show some damage if not treated or cared for, but the Highspeed steels are high carbon and really don't need much of an excuse to start to turn on you, but they sure do take an impressive edge.
G2
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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...
G2 LeatherWorks
it's Stain-Less
Not Stain-Never
So yes even the ATS-34 can show some damage if not treated or cared for, but the Highspeed steels are high carbon and really don't need much of an excuse to start to turn on you, but they sure do take an impressive edge.
G2
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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...
G2 LeatherWorks
Hello everybody,
If you care to look at the data sheet, you will be surprised to find:
1) ATS-34 contains MORE carbon than the "high carbon" M-2 HSS.
2) ATS-34 is ALSO a HSS-Type steel, if tempered accordingly. But then just "barely" stainless....
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D.T. UTZINGER
If you care to look at the data sheet, you will be surprised to find:
1) ATS-34 contains MORE carbon than the "high carbon" M-2 HSS.
2) ATS-34 is ALSO a HSS-Type steel, if tempered accordingly. But then just "barely" stainless....
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D.T. UTZINGER