Benchmade “upgrade” from 154CM to S30V

[Dknight16]

Am I alone in thinking “ big whoop”? Isn’t this like the smallest upgrade possible? Doesn’t this seem like welcome to 2009? Or have I become a snob?

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Pretty major change from ingot steel to PM. It'll offer significantly better edge retention as well. I don't think it's a giant step, and probably a little overdue, but I also think it helps the value proposition of the Griptilian line. More importantly, IMO, it means that if a model gets an edition with upgraded steel, it's pretty certain to be something like M390 or M4.

 

[sliceofaloha]

I thought BM was generally off m390 and liked 20cv because USA made, maybe imagining.

Also, I know there’s a diff between 154cm and cpm154, or at least I think I know there’s a difference. Does BM use cpm154 and just not use the proper nomenclature? Apologies if way off.

 

[mongomondo]

S30V is their new base line steel so the "budget" knives like Griptilians will have it. It also means they will be using more 20cv in their premium models, so I see no negative here.

 

[Knicked Digits]

Not to mention there’s only only gonna be a $5 increase on the s30v grips. At least that’s what the rep from Benchmade said on blade hq’s shot show video.

The other bright side is you won’t have to spend an arm and a leg on a custom grip with s30v anymore

 

[r8shell]

The only negative is that I kinda like 154cm.

 

[Pilsner]

This seems to me to be a faintly ludicrous complaint. You are annoyed that they changed the good steel for a better steel? Thank goodness you don’t have other things with which to contend.

 

[Comeuppance]

I’d call it an unremarkable but necessary change. Had I been at that particular meeting, I probably would have suggested S35VN, but, eh.

 

[b00n]

I'm always wondering how much price difference there really is when it comes to volume purchases from the big companies. Like how much difference would there really be between say a PM2 in S30, S35, M390, 20CV or LC200.

 

[Lapedog]

I wish that more companies switched to CPM154.

I sometimes wonder why both American companies Benchmade and Spyderco have decided to go with s30v rather than s35vn.

 

[MolokaiRider]

I agree with R8shell, I’ve had good luck with 154cm on my Griptillians. It’s a pretty robust steel, does a decent job on different media, and sharpens easy.

 

[AntDog]

Meh, griptilians are still an overpriced FRN handled knife regardless of the steel.

I think it's good for any company to upgrade their baseline steel in most cases.

In some cases it's not advisable if the upgrade prices them out of the market due to the original steel being good in the first place, and a fair deal for what you get.

154CM is a perfectly good blade steel, but IMO the griptilian has always been overpriced for what you get.

As mentioned by other posters, this means the upgrades will be even better, and that's always a good thing.

 

[knarfeng]

Does BM use cpm154 and just not use the proper nomenclature? Apologies if way off.

Benchmade has been using the correct nomenclature. They've been using 154CM.

 

[Comeuppance]

I'm always wondering how much price difference there really is when it comes to volume purchases from the big companies. Like how much difference would there really be between say a PM2 in S30, S35, M390, 20CV or LC200.

Aside from the bulk price, there's also the cost of machining. For example, the cost of the additional abrasive belts required are likely factored into the prices of Spyderco's S110V offerings, and I imagine that holds true for any other high-hardness steels.

154CM is, if my understanding is correct, notably easier to machine than S30V or M390 - so, even if they got S30V or M390 for the exact same price as 154CM, they would have to charge more because it would take more time and materials to produce the end product. Even the bits that they use to drill the holes and the wheels they use to bevel edges would wear down some appreciable amount more per knife produced.

I imagine the price difference in knives made from LC200N and other less-common steels largely comes from the combined effects of (1) smaller material orders being less cost efficient and (2) justifying the cost of a separate production line.

 

[b00n]

Aside from the bulk price, there's also the cost of machining. For example, the cost of the additional abrasive belts required are likely factored into the prices of Spyderco's S110V offerings, and I imagine that holds true for any other high-hardness steels.

154CM is, if my understanding is correct, notably easier to machine than S30V or M390 - so, even if they got S30V or M390 for the exact same price as 154CM, they would have to charge more because it would take more time and materials to produce the end product. Even the bits that they use to drill the holes and the wheels they use to bevel edges would wear down some appreciable amount more per knife produced.

I imagine the price difference in knives made from LC200N and other less-common steels largely comes from the combined effects of (1) smaller material orders being less cost efficient and (2) justifying the cost of a separate production line.

Good points all around, I keep forgetting about the "wear and tear" costs, gonna factor into Ti vs Stainless Liners as well for sure.