BM 551 in 440C?

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StandOnGuard

Joined
Feb 17, 2006
Messages
32
Has the Benchmade 551 Griptilian ever been made with a 440C blade? 'Cause I'm in line to buy a 551 used, and the fella seems pretty knowledgable (he plans to cryo and heat treat the blade before selling it to me). But I asked, and he says the blade is made of 440C.

According to the Benchmade website, Grips are made of 154CM, but there's apparently a new material starting to be used in 2006. Is it the 154CM, or something else?
 
For the first few years they were made the Griptilians were 440C.

Uhh, it seems a little strange to me (OK, very strange) that someone would offer to heat treat a production knife before selling it to you. :confused: I'm pretty sure that home-grown heat-treating experiments will void your warranty. :)
 
StandOnGuard said:
I'm in line to buy a 551 used, and the fella seems pretty knowledgable (he plans to cryo and heat treat the blade before selling it to me). But I asked, and he says the blade is made of 440C.
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These blades already heat treated to the best possible condition by one of the best heat treatment places. I would never buy a knife, which somebody decided to cryo and heat treat the blade before selling it to me. It doen't make any sense for me. First of all to heat treat and cryo one blade it will cost more than one NIB knife. If he really will do this, there is good chance for worsening this blade.
Street price for this knife NIB about $60, now it is on sale at gpknives for $47.50
R
 
I third what Julian and bh49 said. that sounds wierd. The 440c has had rave reviews, though. do a search-it has been debated several times, mostly about the RSK vs the regular Griptilian
 
Alright, well I still have time to tell him to stop; he hasn't treated any of the stuff I said I'd buy.
These blades already heat treated to the best possible condition by one of the best heat treatment places.
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Can you say the same about the Leatherman New Wave, another product I'm purchasing from him?

Assuming that he doesn't heat treat the Grip, is 440C rather than 154CM a big deal? Or should I go with the newer Grip? And is there any other differences (particularly in design) between the new and old?

Thanks to all who are helping me out here!
 
The 440C steel is great in the Grip and any other. It has a Rockwell hardness of about Rc60 which means it will hold an edge. Compare that to many others that are no where near as hard. I don't know why the seller would have to heat treat the blade though. What happened to it that it required reheat treating and tempering and does the guy really have the skills and equipment to do this? I don't believe I would buy the knife. I'd rather hunt around for a NIB.

440C is a sister to 154CM/ATS34 with the big difference being that it has less molybdenum and more chromium. It is 10x better than the 440-A and B steels which don't have enough carbon to get the hardness that 440C can.

Here is some steel info if interested in learning about the "heart" of the knife.

http://www.ajh-knives.com/metals.html
 
StandOnGuard said:
Sorry, correction: He didn't say he'd heat treat it. He said that he'd cryo treat it, and temper it.
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I would leave it alone and better buy a new knife.
 
I too would leave it alone, and buy a new knife. Something sounds and feels hinkey to me.
 
I've got a used 555 in 440C I'll sell you right now :D and I won't heat treat it either.
 
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