Bohler M390 vs. Duratech 20CV.

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Planetcat

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Ok, I almost feel like M390 should have it's own forum, given so much discussion.

My question is, does anyone know (or speculate) why Benchmade uses Bohler's M390 instead of the Timken Duratech 20CV? They are essentially the same steel in terms of chemical composition, Timken is a well known domestic company, Bohler is European. I have a SOG Team Leader in 20CV which I liked so much, I decided to get the BM 710-01 in M390. I think SOG had luke warm reception to the knife (not so much due to the steel, but I think the model), and Benchmade seems to be having great success with the M390. Are there some steps in the process of going from steel supplier to knife that I'm missing here? Just wondering. Thanks.
 
Planetcat said:
... M390 should have it's own forum
... why Benchmade uses Bohler's M390 instead of the Timken Duratech 20CV? ... Timken is a well known domestic company,
... Bohler is European
Click to expand...

Timken sold to Latrobe in December 2006. They are now Latrobe Specialty Steels Co.

Latrobe DuraTech™ 20CV Powder Metal Stainless Tool Steel
 
The only difference in chemical composition appears to be that M390 has more silicon. Still, you have to keep in mind that even if the steel is the same, the heat treat makes a world of difference. Perhaps Benchmade felt that Bohler did the HT better.

Personally, I like the current steels I have from Bohler(Elmax, M390), and I'm looking forward to a few more in the future(Vanax 35, Vanax 75, Sleipner). As far as Duratech goes, I can't say I've ever heard of them before. Only Cruicible and Carpenter ever came to mind when I thought about an American steel maker.
 
I believe Carpenter was affiliated with Latrobe. Also, If you have used BG42 , you have a Latrobe steel. Carpenter has a version of it now in their CTS knife steel series ( CTS -B75) but BG42 is still being made and sold by Latrobe last I heard.
 
misterjuiceman said:
I was kind of curious about this as well. Is the BM 755 MPR the only BM knife to use this steel?
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Knifeworks sold two versions of the BM 710 using M390. GP Knives has the mini grip in M390. Here is a pic of my new M390 mini grip.

IMG_1505.jpg
 
Noctis3880 said:
The only difference in chemical composition appears to be that M390 has more silicon. Still, you have to keep in mind that even if the steel is the same, the heat treat makes a world of difference. Perhaps Benchmade felt that Bohler did the HT better.

Personally, I like the current steels I have from Bohler(Elmax, M390), and I'm looking forward to a few more in the future(Vanax 35, Vanax 75, Sleipner). As far as Duratech goes, I can't say I've ever heard of them before. Only Cruicible and Carpenter ever came to mind when I thought about an American steel maker.
Click to expand...


Bohler doesn't do the heat treat Benchmade does. They can use any heat treat they want with whatever steel they pick. Why does any knife company pick the steel they do? Maybe the rep for one company was more aggressive or friendly or they gave a better deal on the steel. Maybe one came in the size they wanted. Maybe they thought that M390 sounded more catchy. Who knows it could be that's the first one they tested and had good results so they stuck with it.
 
stormbird said:
Knifeworks sold two versions of the BM 710 using M390. GP Knives has the mini grip in M390. Here is a pic of my new M390 mini grip.
Click to expand...

And KW has an 805 LE coming as well later this year. There is a Spyderco Mule also in the works with M390. :thumbup:
 
The biggest difference is the way the powder granules are made. Bohler-Uddeholm BU is on their third generation of powder metallurgy. The granule size is very small like flour. The finer the granules the tougher the steel.

Another difference between BU and Latrobe is their response to customers. We tried getting Latrobe steels for years. They would rarely return calls. When they did return calls they only wanted to sell mills runs. Their attitude was bad. After a few years we stopped calling them. At a knife show they contacted me and asked why we would not sell their steels?!?!? I told them to call me after the show and I never heard back.

I recently heard from a steel industry insider Carpenter made BG42 for Latrobe.
 
I forgot one important fact. Bohler-Uddeholm has been a pleasure to deal with. They are very interested in the knife community and what we think of their steels. This is impressive considering the massive size of the company.
 
Probably the same reason we saw so few BG-42 knives over the years, and pretty much what Mr. Bybee said. If steel doesn't get produced in the dimensions useful for knives, nor sold in quantities appropriate for a company manufacturing hundreds of knives instead of thousands of machine parts, then it isn't economical.
 
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