Benchmade Blade Steels Ranking?

T

tatfiend

Joined
Apr 24, 2013
Messages
417
I have Benchmade knives with the following blade steels so far. Anyone want to rate them from best to worst in your opinion.

CPM-M4
D2
M390
S30V
154CM
440C
Damasteel

It seems like the CPM-M4 used on the Contego and the M390 used on 581 & 586 Barrages are the ones used on the fewest BM knives and the 154CM currently the commonest BM uses. IIRC the CPM-M4 is the lowest chromium steel and thus the most subject to corrosion.
 
M390
CPM-M4
D2
S30V
154CM
440C
Damasteel (I don't know that one, the rest stand.)
 
jkarp_53 said:
M390
CPM-M4
D2
S30V
154CM
440C
Damasteel (I don't know that one, the rest stand.)
Click to expand...

I pretty much agree but for me it's a toss up between BM's D2 & S30V. The D2 is maybe slightly more wear resistant then the S30V but so much harder to sharpen. The truth is we're slicing the finest of hairs here either way.

Also, in practical terms not many, including myself would really be able to tell the difference of many of these steels if we didn't know what they were.

BM has really nailed the heat treatment of their steels so their all pretty much top performers.
No question though that M390 & CPM-M4 are at the top of the list.
 
Last edited:
m4 is the pits for rust here with body sweat and humidity.

i could not rank them they all get sharp ans stay sharp.
 
For folders, I value edge holding above other traits, however If it was in a hard use folder like the Adamas I'd probably pick M4 over M390 for the extra toughness, otherwise I'd say (and folders I currently have in that steel):

M390 (710, 805, 806, 581)
CPM-M4 (810, 950, 551x2 (shotshow and GPK), 552, 556)
S30V (none)
D2 (275)
154cm (none)
440C (none)

(No experience with damasteel, but it looks cool)
 
IMO,

1) CPM-M4 (I live in a humid environment & I have no rust issues - edge holds forever and the heat treat is spot-on, LOVE this steel)
2) M390 (My current fav for stainless, LOVE this steel)
3) S30V (Used many years hunting/skinning, good edge retention IMO, and easy to sharpen)
4) D2 (Poor edge retention, dulls easily)
5) 154CM (I stopped using this one about 4 years ago)
6) 440C (I stopped using this one 4/5 years ago)
7) Damasteel (Don’t currently own any with this)
 
My top and bottom are pretty much the same as all of the above, but with the examples I own, I can't say I see much difference in wear and sharpening ease between the D2 & 154cm (griptillian and 943). The S30V griptillian I picked up takes noticably more time to sharpen than either of those 2, but keeps it longer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top