Better steel for edc 440c or 154cm

clich

clich

Joined
Apr 19, 2011
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Don't know much about the differences between steels except for some are better than others so if these are the same don't chastise me. I got two bms in a trade a 551 in 154cm and a 522 in 440c so I was wondering which I should put in my edc rotation and which i should keep boxed up for a future trade incentive. This is based on steel performance and pros and cons of course. Thanks
 
Most responses will be that "154CM is better", but really, they are both great steels.

154CM will be valued higher though, so if you want to retain trade value, then EDC the 440C one.

Really though, knives don't appreciate in value easily (especially production ones), but they don't depreciate that fast either, so you should EDC what you feel like
 
both would be good for EDC

440c is an old school super steel, has great rust resistance and holds an edge quite well, pending on how high the RC is and how the HT is.

personally though i would go with the 154cm. it will take a slighty better edge, for the sacrifice of great rust resistance to pretty good rust resistance
 
154cm is my personal favorite steel. It holds a wicked edge. 440c is decent steel but there are a lot of better steels 154cm being 1 of them. I would edc the 154cm model and try and trade/sell the other.
 
If heat treated to the same hardness, 154CM will hold an edge better than 440C. The difference may be noticed in every day use, depending on how you use the knives.

That being said, the performance of either is more than adequate for most EDC activities. The performances of those alloys are similar enough that I wouldn't choose which to carry based the blade alloys. The 551 and 522 are significantly different designs. If it were I, I would choose based on how I liked the rest of the designs. How they feel in the hand, how they carry in the pocket, the balance, the overall feel, etc.
 
Both great user steels,but the edge will always go to 154cm imo.It gets really really sharp also.( :
IMG_0021-1.jpg
 
154CM is better as the added alloying elements add wear resistance .For a finer edge go to CPM154 with it's finer and uniformly distributed carbides .That's my favorite !!
 
knarfeng said:
If it were I, I would choose based on how I liked the rest of the designs. How they feel in the hand, how they carry in the pocket, the balance, the overall feel, etc.
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This all day. I really like 154cm but there is nothing wrong with 440c and, in some cases, it's a better choice than some of the more recent super steels. I'd choose to edc 440c over 154cm in the summer down here, for instance.
 
I doubt the casual user will be able to tell any difference in use. 154CM is the newer steel and what Benchmade replaced 440C with. As mentioned, go with the knife you like holding and playing with more.
 
Of course it can be just an illusion but I experienced finer edges with 154CM. As far as rust resistance is concerned 154CM should be more than adequate. So I go for 154CM as well.
 
mete said:
154CM is better as the added alloying elements add wear resistance .For a finer edge go to CPM154 with it's finer and uniformly distributed carbides .That's my favorite !!
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+1 to that info. But, properly heat treated 440C would work quite well, too.
 
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