Cpm-154 vs ats-34

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blackjackdan08

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Steel question..I recently bought a Gerber Gator Folding knife, advertised having a cpm-154 steel blade, but stamped on the knife is ATS-34, Are they the same steel?
 
Pretty much. 154CM is US version of Japanese ATS-34

Sorry, didn't catch the CPM part. They are different steels, not so much in components, but in the way it's done. CPM-154 is a powder metallurgy product, while ATS-34 isn't.
 
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I think that 154cm and ats-34 are the same steel, but I'm pretty sure CPM-154 is a different steel altogether, so no they are not the same steel.
 
While they are extremely close to the same alloy, they are not identical. For all practical purposes I would call them the same and either way both (Heat Treated Correctly ) make excellent knife steels.

Bill
 
There's nothing wrong with ATS-34 but CPM-154 is a newer and, for the most part, a better steel. The CPM-154 would cost more also. I'd be asking the seller why you didn't get what was advertised.
 
CPM 154 is what is on my Burke Rock Star Pro.. By crucible It is damn good..
154cm is on a bm 551.. not as good..
Ats 34 seems.. as good as CPM 154 to me..
I wont go on.. I see your all set..
Matt :)
 
From what I understand, 154cm is an American rendition of Japanese ATS-34. They aren't chemically identical, but are close enough that there is seldom a reason to chose one over the other.

I can't say for this for sure, but I'm also pretty certain that CPM154 is Crucible's powder steel equivalent of 154cm. The same chemical elements are there in the same proportions, but are more evenly dispersed, and there are fewer impurities in the steel, producing an essentially superior product.
I may be wrong about this, so if someone else knows better, feel free to speak up.
 
I believe 154cm came first. The quality wasnt great so Hitachi made their own version called ATS-34. Then later Crucible Industries came out with their Crucible Particle Metallurgy version that is called CPM 154CM which is chemically the same as regular 154CM but it's run through the CPM process which reduces impurities, improves the character, etc.

My understanding is that while ATS-34 is a copy, it is not EXACTLY the same. Basically they are so close as makes no difference.
 
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More than likely the advertisement was wrong and should have been labeled as 154CM. 154CM and ats34 are very similar steels, I wouldn't sweat it.
 
Peregrin said:
There's nothing wrong with ATS-34 but CPM-154 is a newer and, for the most part, a better steel. The CPM-154 would cost more also.
Click to expand...

Jpalmer1988 said:
More than likely the advertisement was wrong and should have been labeled as 154CM. 154CM and ats34 are very similar steels, I wouldn't sweat it.
Click to expand...

CPM-154 is one of the Crucible Particle Metallurgy steels (aka "powder steels).
It is a much more recent product than either 154CM or ATS-34 which, as noted, are nearly identical.
CPM-154 has superior performance characteristics with respect to both 154CM and ATS-34,
but 154CM and ATS-34 are both very high quality blade steels.

The Gerber Gator is available with a 154CM steel blade.
It used to be available with an ATS-34 steel blade, but Gerber switched some time back from ATS-34 to 154CM.
The "regular" Gerber Gator has a 420HC blade.
As an exclusive, Cabela's offers the Gerber Gator with a CPM-S30V blade.

The knife is not available with CPM-154, and never has been.
 
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If I'm not mistaken the Gator was first offered in ATS 34 as the upgrade model, not counting Cabelas. A few years ago they switched to 154cm instead of ATS 34.

That would likely make the knife N.O.S. ( New Old Stock). It's not in any way lesser quality than 154cm, and performance should be similar. I've had both and to me there's no real difference. Not anything to get worked up about.

Enjoy your knife. It's a very good knife for the money.
 
Gator97 said:
154cm pretty much the same as ats-34, however, CPM 154 is supposed to have a little Vanadium in it.
So, in the end we have the following: 154CM vs. CPM154 vs. ATS-34 steel composition comparison
Click to expand...

Aside from possibly containing a bit of Vanadium, CPM 154 is different than either 154CM or ATS34 because it is processed differently. The particle metallurgy process produces a finer, more uniform grain size. The finer grain size (including finer carbide size) gives improved performance.
 
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