Benchmade 154CM vs. S30V for twice the price?

[phatch]

Franciscomv, if you do a search here, you'll see that BM has had some difficulty in the early S30V knives in regards to chipping. The generally accepted explanation is that the edge was over-tempered shallowly during sharpening leading to highly brittle edges that would chip easily. In most cases, this was remedied in resharpening the blade and the chipping behavior went away.

There haven't been many reports recently of S30V chipping.

This is not to justify BM's answer or their problem. It shouldn't have happened and that letter doesn't impress me at all. On the other hand, the chipping, while a pain, is easily sharpened out and great performance generally follows.

My full size Ritter chipped slightly but as i've convexed the edge over time it has performed flawlessly. I bought a mini some time later and it has never chipped. the 154 CM on my 940 KOTM chips with ease. I should convex that one too.

 

[StretchNM]

........I generally suggest that picking a knife should be mostly about the knife, rather than the steel, since MOST users wouldn't even recognize a difference.

I couldn;t agree more. Only the scientists and metalurgists would realize a difference... a difference enough to make a difference, anyway.

The full size Ritter scales aren't G-10.

You're right Lavan. I fixed that in my post. I was thinking of the Fixed Ritter Grip. The scales on that one are G10, as opposed to BM's Nylon and Santoprene.

Like others said, it would certainly be easier to justify the extra expense if a nicer handle material were used. If the Ritter Grip folder came with say Micarta or G-10 scales and a choice of 154CM or S30V..........I'd take the 154CM with the nicer handles.

 

[udtjim]

I like the 154 better than the s30v. The sharpest knife I ever bought from the box was the Gerber Gator with the 154 blade.

 

[Ben Dover]

It's your personal preference. As for me, I would gladly pay more for S30V.

I have two S30V blades, and IMHO, they're easily worth twice as much as lesser stainless. Just MNSHO!

 

[GEL99]

I believe Cabellas also offers a Grip with D2. Not quite as good as the S30V but not quite as expensive either.

 

[jonnymac44]

I can push cut newspaper, shave hair off of my arm without touching skin and whittle hair with my S30V blades. I'm not sure how much sharper they need to get. I don't have a 154CM blade to compare though. If they can get 154CM sharper, I might be able to cut through time and space...

Phil,
I'm a bit late, but are you telling me that in your whole collection, you don't have ANY blades made of 154CM?? I'm gonna have to send you one, just so you can fool around with it.

Jon

 

[Kaizen1]

Phil,
I'm a bit late, but are you telling me that in your whole collection, you don't have ANY blades made of 154CM?? I'm gonna have to send you one, just so you can fool around with it.

Jon

I'm not sure how I call myself a knife nut sometimes. I only have about 6 knives.